^          187  v 


CECILS   REMAINS. 


REV.  RICHARD  CECIL,  M.A. 

Late  Rector  of  Bisley,  and  Vicar  of  Chobham, 

Surrey  ;  and  Minister  of  St.  John's  Chapel, 

Bedford  Row^  London. 


TO  WHICH  IS  PREFIXED 


A  VIEW  OF  HIS  CHARACTER. 


BY  JOSIAH  PRATT,  B.  D.  F.  A.  S. 


Cbitioiu 


ANDOVER 

PUBLISHED  BY  MARK  NEWMAN. 

Flagg  &;  Gould... printers. 

1824. 


INTRODUCTION. 


**  HE  that  has  the  happy  talent  of  parlor-preach- 
ing, "  sa}rs  Dr.  Watts,*  "  has  sometimes  done 
more  for  Christ  and  souls  in  the  space  of  a 
few  minutes,  than  by  the  labor  of  many  hours 
and  days  in  the  usual  course  of  preaching  in 
the  pulpit." 

On  my  first  intercourse  with  Mr.  Cecil,  now 
upwards  of  fifteen  years  since  when  in  the  full 
vigor  of  his  mind,  I  was  so  struck  with  the 
wisdom  and  originality  of  his  remarks,  that  I 
considered  it  my  duty  to  record  what  seemed 
to  me  most  likely  to  be  useful  to  others. 

It  should  be  observed  that  Mr.  Cecil  is  made 
to  speak  often  of  himself:  and,  to  persons  who 
do  not  consider  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
there  may  appear  much  egotism  in  the  quanti- 
ty of  such  remarks  here  put  together,  and  in 
the  manner  in  which  his  things  are  said  :  but 
this  will  be  treating  him  with  the  most  flagrant 

*  An  humble  attempt  towards  the  revival  of  relig* 
ion.  Part  I.  Sect.  4. 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

injustice ;  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  the 
remarks  of  this  nature  were  chiefly  made  by 
him,  from  time  to  time,  in  answer  to  my  par- 
ticular inquiries  into  his  judgment  and  habits 
on  certain  points  of  doctrine  or  practice. 

I  have  labored  in  recording  those  sentiments 
which  I  have  gathered  from  him  in  conversa- 
tion, to  preserve  as  much  as  possible  his  very 
expressions  ;  and  they  who  were  familiar  with 
his  manner  will  be  able  to  judge,  in  general, 
how  far  I  have  succeeded :  but  I  would  ex- 
plicitly disavow  an  exact  verbal  responsibility. 
For  the  sentiments  I  make  myself  answerable. 

In  some  instances,  I  have  brought  together 
observations  made  at  different  times ;  the  rea- 
der is  not  therefore  to  understand  that  the 
thoughts  here  collected  on  any  subject  al- 
ways followed  in  immediate  connexion. 


CONTENTS. 


View  of  the  Character  of  the  Rev,  Richard  Cecil       9 

REMAINS. 

On  the  Christian  Life  and  Conflict      ...     77 
On  Subjects  connected  with  the  Christian  Min- 
istry : — 

On  a  Minister's  qualifying  himself  for  his 

Office        .         .       ' 100 

On  the  Assistance  which  a  Minister  has  rea- 
son to  expect  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Pub- 
lic Duty 104 

On  Preaching  Christ    .         .         .         .         .107 

On  a  Minister's  Familiar  Intercourse  with  his 
hearers     .         .         .         .         .         .         .  114 

On  a  Ministers  encouraging  Animadversion 
on  himself        .         .         .         .         .         .116 

On  Limits,  with  regard  to  frequenting  Public 

Exhibitions 122 

On  the  Means  of  promoting  a  Spirit  of  Devo- 
tion in  Congregations        .                   .         .   124 
On  the  Marriage  of  Christian  Ministers         .  127 
On  Visiting  Death-beds         .         .         .         .132 
Miscellaneous  Remarks        ....  137 
On  Infidelity  and  Popery     .         .         .         .         .155 
On  a  Christian's  Duty  in  these  Eventful  Times  .  162 
On  Fortifying  Youth  against  Infidel  Principles     .  165 
On  the  Management  of  Children          .         .         .  168 
On  Family  Worship 172 


Viii  CONTENTS. 

On  the  Influence  of  the  Parental  Character  .  175 
Remarks  on  Authors  .  .  .  .  •  .180 
On  the  Scriptures  : — 

Miscellaneous  Remarks  ....  188 
On  the  Old  and  New  Dispensations  .  .196 
On  Typical  and  Allegorical  Explanations  of 

Scripture 198 

On  the  Diversity  of  Character  in  Christians,  and 

on  correcting  the  defects  in  our  Character       .  200 
On  the  Fallen  Nature  of  Man     .         .         .         .209 

On  the  Need  of  Grace 211 

"On  the  Occasions  of  Enmity  against  Christianity  215 
On  Religious  Retirement     .....  218 

On  a  Spiritual  Mind  .         .         .         .  .  223 

On  Declension  in  Religion  .         .         ...         .  227 

On  a  Christian's  associating  with  Irreligious  Per- 
sons for  their  good 230 

On  the  Christian  Sabbath 232 

On  Judging  Justly      ......  234 

On  the  Character  of  St.  Paul      .         .         .        .237 

Miscellanies 240 

APPENDIX. 

Remarks  by  Mr.  Cecil,  communicated  to  the  Edi- 
tor by  some  friends  .....  272 
Some  negative  rules,  given  to  a  Young  Minister  311 
Fragment — A  Dying  Minister's  Eare well     .         .315 
Lines  on  the  death  of  a  child  at  day-break         .  322 


A 

VIEW  OF  THE  CHARACTER 

OF  THE 

REV.  RICHARD  CECIL. 


IN  depicting  the  PERSONAL  and  MINISTERIAL  char- 
acter of  my  departed  friend,  while  I  shall  com- 
municate occasionally  the  impressions  made  by 
him  on  my  own  mind,  most  of  which  were  re- 
corded at  the  time  they  were  made,  1  shall  en- 
deavor to  render  him,  as  much  as  possible,  the 
portrayer  of  his  own  character,  by  detailing 
those  descriptions  of  his  views  and  feelings 
which  I  gathered  from  him. 

NATURE,  EDUCATION,  and  GRACE  combine  to 
form  and  model  the  PERSONAL  CHARAC- 
TER, of  every  Christian.  God  gives  to  his 
reasonable  creature  such  physical  and  intellec- 
tual constitution  as  he  pleases ;  education  and 
circumstances  hide  or  unfold,  restrain  or  ma- 
ture this  constitution  ;  and  grace,  while  it  reg- 
ulates and  sanctifies  the  powers  of  the  man, 
varies  its  own  appearances  according  to  the 
varieties  of  those  powers.  And  it  is  by  the 
endless  modifications  and  counteractions  of  these 
principles  that  the  Personal  Character  of  a 
Christian  is  formed. 
2 


10  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

It  might  have  been  expected  from  Mr.  Ce- 
cil's earliest  displays  of  character,  that  he  was 
formed  to  he  an  instrument  of  extensive  evil 
or  of  eminent  good.  There  was  a  DECISION — 
a  DARING — an  UNTAMEABLENESS  in  the  structure 
of  his  mind  even  when  a  boy,  combined  with 
a  tone  of  authority  and  command,  and  a  talent 
in  the  exercise  of  these  qualities,  to  which 
the  minds  of  his  associates  yielded  an  implicit 
subjection.  Fear  of  consequences  never  enter- 
ed into  his  view.  Opposition,  especially  if.  ac- 
companied by  any  thing  like  severity  or  op- 
pression, awakened  unrelenting  resistance. 

Yet  this  bold  and  untameable  spirit  was  al- 
lied to  a  NOBLE  and  &ENEROUS disposition.  There 
was  a  magnificence  in  his  mind  While  he 
was  scrupulously  delicate,  perhaps  even  to  some 
excess,  on  subjects  entrusted  to  his  secrecy, 
and  on  affairs  in  progress ;  yet  he  would  nev- 
er lend  himself  in  his  own  concerns,  or  in  those 
of  other  persons,  to  any  thing  that  bordered 
on  artifice  and  manoeuvre  :  for  he  had  a  native 
and  thorough  contempt  of  whatever  was  mean, 
little,  and  equivocating.  That  "  honesty  is 
the 'best  policy"  may  be  a  strong,  or  the  pre- 
vailing motive  for  uprightness  with  men  of  a 
lower  tone  of  character,  but  I  question  if  it  at 
all  entered  into  calculation  with  my  great  friend. 
His  mind  was  too  noble,  to  have  recourse  to 
other  means  or  to  aim  at  other  ends,  than  those 
which  he  avowed  ;  and  too  intrepid  not  to  avow 
those  which  he  did  entertain,  so  far  as  might 
be  required  or  expedient. 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  1 1 

His  temptations  were  to  the  sins  of  the 
spirit,  rather  than  to  those  of  the  flesh  ;  and 
he  possessed,  all  his  life  long,  a  superiority  to 
the  pleasures  of  mere  sense  not  often  seen. 
He  was,  indeed,  TEMPERATE  in  all  things — hold- 
ing his  bodily  appetites  »n  entire  subjection. 

SYMPATHY  WITH  SUFFERING  was  an  eminent 
characteristic  of  Mr.  Cecil's  mind — a  sympathy 
which  sprung  less  from  that  softness  and  sensi- 
bility which  are  the  ornament  of  the  female, 
than  from  the  generosity  of  his  disposition.  He 
would  have  had  ail  men  happy.  It  grat'iied 
his  generous  nature  to  ease  the  burdens  of  suf- 
fering man.  If  any  were  atflicted  by  the  visit- 
ations of  God,  he  taught  them  to  bow  with  sub- 
mission, while  he  pitied  and  relieved  ;  if  the 
affliction  were  the  natural  and  evident  fruit  of 
crimes,  he  admonished  while  he  sympathised; 
if  the  sufferings  of  man  or  brute  arose  from  the 
voluntary  inflictions  of  others,  he  was  indignant 
against  the  oppressor. 

Such  was  the  intrepid  and  noble,  yet  humane 
mind,  which  was  trained  by  Divine  Grace,  un- 
der a  long  course  of  moral  discipline,  for  em- 
inent usefulness  in  the  Church  of  God.  Mr. 
Cecil's  intellectual  endowments  will  be  spoken 
of  hereafter.  At  present,  f  shall  trace  the 
rise  and  the  advances  of  his  Christian  character. 

He  had  early  religions  impressions.  These 
were  iirst  received  from  Janeway's  u  Token 
forChildren,"  which  his  mothergave  him  when 
he  was  about  six  years  of  age.  u  I  was  much 
affected  by  this  book,"  said  he,  "  and  recollect 


12  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

that  I  wept,  and  got  into  a  corner,  where  I 
prayed  that  I  also  might  have  k  an  interest  in 
Christ,'  like  one  of  the  children  there  men- 
tioned, though  I  did  not  then  know  what  the 
expression  meant." 

Those  impressions  of  his  childhood  wore  a- 
way.  He  fell  into  the  follies  and  vices  ofyoutb  ; 
and,  by  degrees,  hegan  to  listen  to  infidel  prin- 
ciples, till  he  avowed  himself  openly  an  unbe- 
liever. He  has  alluded  frequently  in  his  writ- 
ings to  this  criminal  part  of  his  history  :  but  I 
shall  add  some  paragraphs  on  this  point  partly 
in  his  own  words. 

He  was  suffered  to  proceed  to  awful  lengths 
in  infidelity.  The  natural  daring  of  his  mind 
allowed  him  to  do  nothing  by  halves.  Into 
whatever  society  he  enlisted  himself,  he  was 
its  leader.  He  became  even  an  apostle  of  in- 
fidelity—anxious to  banish  the  scruples  of  more 
cautious  minds,  and  to  carry  them  all  lengths 
with  his  own.  And  he  was  too  succesful.  In 
after-iife  he  has  met  more  than  one  of  these 
converts,  who  have  laughed  at  all  his  affection- 
ate and  earnest  attempts  to  pull  down  the  fa- 
bric erected  too  much  by  his  own  hands. 

Yet  he  was  never  wholly  sincere  in  his  infi- 
delity. He  has  left  a  most  impressive  and  en- 
couraging testimony  to  the  power  of  Parental 
Influence  in  preserving  his  mind,  under  the 
grace  of  God,  from  entirely  believing  his  own 
lie.*  He  gave  me  a  farther  instance  of  the 
power  of  conscience  in  this  respect : — 

*  See  remains :  on  the  Influence  of  the  Parental 
Character. 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  13 

"  When  I  was  sunk  in  the  depths  of  infideli- 
ty, t  was  afraid  to  read  any  author  who  treat- 
ed Christianity  in  a  dispassionate,  wise,  and 
searching  manner.  He  made  me  uneasy.  Con- 
science would  gather  strength.  I  found  it  more 
difficult  to  stifle  her  remonstrances.  He  would 
recal  early  instructions  and  impressions,  while 
my  happiness  could  only  consist  with  their  ob- 
literation." 

Yet  he  appears  to  have  taken  no  small 
pains  to  rid  himself  of  his  scruples  ;— "  I  have 
read,"  said  he  "  ail  the  most  acute  and  learned 
and  serious  infidel  writers,  and  have  been  real- 
ly surprised  at  their  poverty.  The  process  of 
my  mind  has  been  such  on  the  subject  of  Rev- 
elation, that  I  have  often  thought  Satan  has 
done  more  for  me  than  for  the  best  of  them ; 
for  I  have  had,  and  could  have  produced,  argu- 
ments, that  appeared  to  me  far  more  weighty 
than  any  I  ever  found  in  them  against  Revela- 
tion." 

He  did  not  proceed  in  this  career  of  sin  with- 
out occasional  checks  of  conscience.  Take 
the  following  instance  : — 

"  My  father  had  a  religious  servant.  I  fre- 
quently cursed  and  reviled  him.  He  would 
only  smile  on  me.  That  went  to  my  heart.  I 
felt  that  he  looked  on  me  as  a  deluded  crea- 
ture. I  felt  that  he  thought  he  had  something 
which  I  knew  not  how  to  value,  and  that  he 
was  therefore  greatly  my  superior.  1  felt  there 
was  a  real  dignity  in  his  conduct.  It  made  me 
appear  little  even  in  my  own  eyes.  If  he  had 
condescended  to  argue  with  me,  I  could  have 


14  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

cut  some  figure;  at  least  by  comparison,  wretch- 
ed as  it  would  have  been.  He  drew  me  once 
to  hear  Mr.  Whitefield,  I  was  17  or  18  years 
old.  It  had  no  sort  of  religious  effect  on  me, 
nor  had  the  preaching  of  any  man  in  my  un- 
converted state.  My  religion  began  in  con- 
templation. Yet  I  conceived  a  high  reverence 
for  Mr.  Whitefield.  I  no  longer,  thought  of  him 
as  the  "  Dr.  Squintum"  we  were  accustomed  to 
buffoon  at  school.  I  saw  a  commanding  and 
irresistible  effect,  and  he  made  me  feel  my  own 
insignificance^' 

For  this  daring  offender,  however,  God  had 
mercy  in  reserve  !  He  was  the  child  of  many 
tears,  instructions,  admonitions,  and  prayers ; 
and,  though  now  a  prodigal,  he  was  to  be  re- 
covered from  his  wickedness ! 

While  under  the  control  of  bad  principles,  he 
gave  into  every  species  of  licentiousness — sav- 
ing that,  even  then,  the  native  nobleness  of  his 
mind  made  him  despise  whatever  he  thought 
mean  and  dishonourable.  Into  this  state  of  sla- 
very he  was  brought  by  his  sin  ;  but  here  the 
mercy  of  God  taught  him  some  most  important 
lessons,  which  influenced  his  views  and  govern- 
ed his  ministry  through  after-life,  and  the  same 
mercy  then  rescued  him  from  the  slavery  to 
which  he  had  submitted.  The  penetration  and 
grandeur  of  his  mind,  with  his  natural  superior- 
ity to  sensual  pleasures,  made  him  feel  the  little- 
ness of  every  object  which  engages  the  ambi- 
tion and  the  desires  of  the  carnal  man :  inso- 
much that  God  had  given  him,  in  this  unusual 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  15 

way  of  bringing  him  to  himself,  a  thorough  dis- 
gust of  the  world  before  he  had  gained  any 
hold  of  higher  objects  and  better  pleasures. 

It  was  thus  that  God  prepared  him  for  fur- 
ther communications  of  mercy.  And  here  he 
felt  the  advantage  of  having  been  connected 
with  sincere  Christians.  He  knew  them  to  be 
holy,  and  he  felt  that  they  were  happy.  u  It 
was  one  of  the  first  things,"  said  he,  "  which 
struck  my  mind  in  a  profligate  state,  that,  in  spite 
of  all  the  folly  and  hypocrisy  and  fanaticism 
which  may  be  seen  among  religious  professors, 
there  was  a  mind  after  Christ,  a  holiness,  a  hea- 
venliness,  among  real  Christians."  He  added  on 
another  occasion,  "  My  first  convictions  on  the 
subject  of  religion  were  confirmed  from  ob- 
serving that  really  religious  persons  had  some 
solid  happiness  among  them,  which  I  had  felt 
that  the  vanities  of  the  world  could  not  give. 
I  shall  never  forget  standing  by  the  bed  of  my 
sick  mother.  6  Are  not  you  afraid  to  die  ?'  1 
asked  her  :  ;  No.'  ;  No  !'  'Why  does  the  uncer- 
tainty of  another  state  give  you  no  concern?' 
6  Because  God  has  said  to  me,  Fear  not :  when 
thoupassest  through  the  waters  I  will  be  with  thee  ; 
and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow 
theeS  The  remembrance  of  this  scene  has  of- 
tentimes since  drawn  an  ardent  prayer  from  me, 
that  I  might  die  the  death  of  the  righteous." 
His  mind  opened  very  gradually  to  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel:  and  the  process  through  which 
he  was  led  is  a  striking  evidence  of  the  immi- 
nence of  his  past  danger.  "  My  feelings,"  he 
said,  u  when  I  was  first  beginning  to  recover 


16  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

from  my  infidelity,  prove  that  I  had  been  suf- 
fered to  go  great  lengths ;  and,  to  a  very  aw- 
ful degree  to  believe  my  own  lie.  My  mind 
revolted  from  Christianity.  God  did  not  bring 
me  to  himself,  by  any  of  the  peculiar  motives 
of  the  Gospel.  When  I  was  about  twenty  years 
old,  1  became  utterly  sick  of  the  vanity,  and 
disgusted  with  the  folly,  of  the  world.  I  had 
no  thought  of  Jesus  Christ,  or  of  Redemption. 
The  very  notion  of  Jesus  Christ  or  of  Redemp- 
tion repelled  me.  I  could  not  endure  a  system 
so  degrading.  I  thought  there  might  possibly 
be  a  Supreme  Being;  and  if  there  were  such 
a  Being,  he  might  hear  me  when  I  prayed. 
To  worship  the  Supreme  Being  seemed  some- 
what dignified.  There  was  something  grand 
and  elevating  in  the  idea.  But  the  whole  scheme 
and  plan  of  redemption  appeared  mean,  and  de- 
grading, and  dishonorable  to  man.  The  New 
Testament,  in  its  sentiments  and  institutions, 
repelled  me  ;  and  seemed  impossible  to  be  be- 
lieved, as  a  religion  suitable  to  man." 

The  grace  of  God  triumphed,  however,  over 
all  opposition.  The  religion,  which  began  in 
this  disgust  with  the  world  and  disaffection  to 
the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  made 
rapid  advances  in  his  mind.  The  seed  sown 
in  tears  by  his  inestimable  mother,  though  long 
buried,  now  burst  into  life,  and  shot  forth  with 
vigor  :  and  he  became  a  preacher  of  that  truth, 
which  once  he  laboured  to  destroy.  Yet  grace 
did  not  annihilate  the  natural  character  and 
qualities  of  the  mind  ;  though  it  regulated  and 
directed  them,  The  Christian's  feelings  and 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  17 

experience  were  modified  by  the  constitution 
of  the  man.  After  a  long  course  of  spiritual 
watchfulness  and  warfare,  he  spoke  thus  of 
himself: — 

"  There  is  what  Bacon  calls  a  DRY  LIGHT,  in 
which  subjects  are  viewed,  without  any  predi- 
lection, or  passion,  or  emotion,  but  simply  as 
they  exist.  This  is  very  much  my  character 
as  a  Christian.  1  have  great  constitutional  re- 
sistance. Tell  me  such  a  thing  is  my  DUTY — 
I  know  it  is,  but  there  I  stop.  Talk  to  me 
of  HELL — my  heart  would  rise  with  a  sort  of 
daring  stubbornness.  There  is  a  constitution- 
al desperation  about  me,  which  was  the  most 
conspicuous  feature  in  my  character  when 
young,  and  which  has  risen  up  against  the  gra- 
cious measures  which  God  has  all  rny  life  ta- 
ken to  subdue  and  break  it.  I  feel  I  can  do 
little  in  religion  without  ENCOURAGEMENT.  I 
am  persuaded  and  satisfied,  tied  and  bound,  by 
its  truth  and  importance  and  value;  but  I  view 
the  subject  in  a  DRY  LIGHT.  A  strong  sense  of 
DIVINE  FRIENDSHIP  goes  a  vast  way  with  me. 
When  I  fall,  God  will  raise  me.  When  I  want, 
God  will  provide.  When  I  am  in  perplexity, 
God  will  deliver.  He  cares  for  me — pi.ties 
me — -hears  with  me — guides  me — loves  me  !'y 

But  the  energy  of  Divine  Grace  was  most 
conspicuous,  in  the  control  and  mastery  of 
this  resisting  and  high  spirit  of  which  our  friend 
complained.  Nay,  if  there  were  any  one  Chris- 
tian virtue  in  which  he  was  more  advanced 
than  any  other,  it  appears  to  me  to  have  been 
HUMILITY — not  that  humility  which  debases  it- 


18  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

self  that  it  may  be  exalted,  and  which  is  offend- 
ed if  its  professions  be  believed  :  but  the  hu- 
mility which  arose  from  abiding1  and  growing 
conviction  of  his  infinite  distance  from  the 
standard  of  perfection,  and  the  little  compara- 
tive use  which  he  had  made  of  his  many  means 
and  helps  in  approaching  that  standard — a 
humility  that  expressed  itself,  therefore,  in  a 
teachableness  of  mind,*  a  ready  acknowledg- 
ment of  excellence  in  others,  and  a  candor  in 
judo-ing  of  other  persons,  which  are  seldom 
equalled  ;  and  which  were  rare  endowments 
in  a  mind  that  could  not  but  feel  its  own  pow- 
ers, and  its  superiority  to  that  of  most  other 
men.  But  God  has  a  thousand  unseen  meth- 
ods of  forming  and  cherishing  those  graces  in 
his  servants,  which  seem  most  opposed  to 
their  constitution,  and  least  to  be  expected  in 
their  circumstances. 

Mr.  Cecil  gave  me  one  day  the  following 
remarkable  illustration  of  this  subject  in  his 
own  case  : —  "  It  is  a  nice  question  in  casuistry: 
— How  for  a  man  may  feel  complacency  in  the 
exercise  of  talent.  A  hawk  exults  on  his  wing; 

*  "  A  friend,  who  knew  him  for  thirty  or  forty 
years,  has  informed  me,"  says  Mr.  Wilson,  in  the  Ser- 
mons preached  on  occasion  of  Mr.  Cecil's  death,  "  that 
he  was  more  ready  to  hear  of  his  faults  from  persons 
whom  he  esteemed,  than  most  men  When  any  fail- 
ings were  pointed  outto  him,  he  usually  thanked  the 
reprover,  and  anxiously  inquired  for  further  admoni- 
tions. I  have  obsr-rved  myself,  that,  when  he  gave 
advice,  which  he  did  with  acuteness  and  decision,  he 
was  quite  superior  to  that  little  vanity  which  is  offend- 
ed if  the  counsel  be  not  followed." 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  19 

hie  skims  and  sails,  delighting  in  the  conscious- 
ness of  his  powers.  1  know  nothing  of  this 
feeling.  DISSATISFACTION  accompanies  me,  in 
the  study  and  in  the  pulpit.  I  never  made  a 
sermon,  with  which  I  felt  satisfied ;  I  never 
preached  a  sermon,  with  which  I  felt  satisfied. 
I  have  always  present  to  my  mind  such  a  con- 
ception of  what  MIGHT  be  done,  and  I  sometimes 
hear  the  thing  so  done,  that  what  I  do  falls 
very  far  beneath  what  it  seems  to  me  it  should 
be.  Some  sermons  which  I  have  heard  have 
made  me  sick  of  my  own  for  a  month  after- 
wards. Many  ministers  have  no  conception 
of  any  thing  beyond  their  own  world :  they 
compare  themselvesonly  with  themselves ;  and, 
perhaps  they  must  do  so :  if  I  could  give  them 
my  views  of  their  ministry,  without  changing* 
the  men,  they  would  be  ruined  ;  while  now 
they  are  eminent  instruments  in  God's  hands. 
But  some  men  see  too  much  beyond  themselves 
for  their  own  comfort.  Perhaps  complacency 
in  tbe  exercise  of  talent,  be  it  what  it  may,  is 
hardly  to  be  separated,  in  such  a  wretched 
heart  as  man's,  from  pride.  It  seems  to  me 
that  this  dissatisfaction  with  myself,  is  the  mes- 
senger sent  to  buffet  me  and  keep  me  down. 
In  other  men,  the  separation  between  compla- 
cency and  pride  may  be  possible  ;  but  I  scarce- 
ly think  it  is  so  in  me."* 

I  have  alluded  to  Mr.  Cecil's  READY  ACKNOWL- 
EDGMENT OF  THE  WORTH  OF  OTHERS  J  and  I  must 

*  Mr.  Churton  has  a  remark  on  Dr.  Johnson,  some- 
what of  a  similar  nature  to  this  of  Mr.  C.  on  himself. 
He  thinks  that  "  Johnson's  morbid  melancholy  and 


SO  CHARACTER  OF  MR.   CECIL. 

add,  that  he  cultivated  that  discrimination  of 
excellence,  which  leads  a  man  to  discover  and 
esteem  it  in  the  midst  of  imperfections.  He 
had  an  unfeigned  regard  to  real  worth,  wher- 
ever it  was  found.  The  powers  of  the  under- 
standing have  often  fascinated  men  of  inferior 
wisdom,  and  lessened  the  odiousness  of  an  im- 
moral state  of  heart  too  plainly  seen  in  others  ; 
hut  if  the  excellencies  of  the  head  and  the 
heart  must  be  disjoined,  he  never  failed  to  val-  ' 
ue  that  which  is  most  truly  valuable.  He  would 
say — "  Such  a  friend  of  ours  is  what  many  men 
look  down  on,  as  a  weak  man ;  but  I  honour 
his  wisdom  and  his  devotedness.  He  throws 
himself  out,  and  all  the  powers  which  God  has 
given  him,  into  the  service  of  his  Master,  in 
all  those  ways  which  seem  to  him  best;  and, 
though  perhaps  he  and  I  should  forever  differ 
on  the  best  way,  apd  though  I  see  in  him  ma- 
ny peculiarities  and  weaknessess,  yet  I  honor 
and  love  the  man  ;  I  revere  his  simplicity  and 
his  piety.  He  is  what  God  has  made  him  ;  and 
all  that  he  is  he  puts  into  action  for  God."  If 
Mr.  Cecil  was  at  any  time  severe  in  his  re- 
marks on  others,  his  severity  was  chiefly  direct- 
ed against  that  ignorant  vanity  and  affectation, 
which  push  a  man  forward  where  great  men 
would  retire,  and  which  make  him  dogmatical 

constitutional  infirmities  were  intended  by  Providence, 
like  St.  Pauls's  thorn  in  the  flesh,  to  check  intellectual 
conceit  and  arrogance  ;  which  the  consciousness  of 
his  extraordinary  talents,  awake  as  he  was  to  the  voice 
of  praise,  might  otherwise  have  generated  in  a  very 
culpable  degree." — BoswelVsLife  of  Johnson,  Zd  Edit. 
8?'o.  vol.  Hi.  p.  564. 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  21 

where  wise  men  would  speak  with  humility 
and  candor. 

Closely  allied   with  his   humility,  was   that 

OPENNESS    TO    CONVICTION,    wtllCfl     Mr.    C^Cil    pOS- 

sessed  in  an  unusual  degree.  Ho  had  dived  so 
deeply  into  his  own  heart,  and  had  read  man 
so  accurately — his  short-sightedness,  his  scan- 
ty span,  his  pride,  and  h  s  passions — that  he 
was,  more  than  most  men,  superior  to  that  lit- 
tle feeling  which  makes  us  quil  the  scholar's 
form.  Many  men  speak  of  themselves  and  of 
all  around  them  as  in  a  state  of  pupilage  and 
childhood,  but  I  never  approached  a  man,  on 
whose  mind  this  conviction  had  a  more  real 
and  practical  influence. 

DISINTERESTEDNESS  was  a  pre-eminent  char- 
acteristic of  Mr  Cecil  as  a  Christian.  Hi^  whole 
spirit  and  conduct  spoke  one  language  : — "  Let 
me  and  mine  be  nothing,  so  that  thy  kingdom 
may  come  !"  His  disinterestedness  was  ground- 
ed on  his  conviction  of  the  absolute  nothingness 
of  all  earthly  good,  compared  with  the  glory  of 
Christ  and  the  interests  of  his  kingdom.  In  all 
pecuniary  transactions,  of  a  private  or  public 
nature,  he  was  governed  by  this  principle  ;  and 
made  a  free  and  cheerful  sacrifice  of  what  he 
might  have  lawfully  obtained,  if  he  thought  his 
receiving  it  would  impede  his  usefulness. 

On  one  occasion  of  this  nature,  he  explained 
the  noble  principle  on  which  he  acted  : — C;  A 
Christian  is  called  to  refrain  from  some  things, 
which,  though  actually  right,  yet  will  not  bear 
a  good  appearance  to  all  men.  1  once  judged 
it  my  duty  to  refuse  a  considerable  sum  of  mon- 
3 


22  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL* 

ey,  which  I  might  lawfully  and  fairly  have  re- 
ceived, because  I  considered  that  MY  account 
of  the  matter  could  not  be  stated  to  some,  to 
whom  a  different  representation  would  be  made. 
A  man  who  intends  to  stand  immaculate,  and, 
like  Samuel,  to  come  forward  and  say — Whose 
ox,  or  whose  ass  have  I  taken  ?  must  count  the 
cost,  I  knew  that  my  character  was  worth 
more  to  me  than  this  sum  of  money.  By  pro- 
bity, a  man  honors  himself.  It  is  the  part  of 
a  wise  man,  to  wave  the  present  good  for  the 
future  increase.  A  merchant  suffers  a  large 
quantity  of  goods  to  go  out  of  the  kingdom  to 
a  foreign  land,  but  he  has  his  object  in  doing  so ; 
he  knows,  by  calculation,  that  he  shall  make  so 
much  more  advantage  by  them.  A  Christian 
is  made  a  wise  man  by  counting  the  cost.  The 
best  picture  I  know  of  the  exercise  of  this  vir- 
tue, drawn  by  the  hand  of  man,  is  that  by  John 
Bunyan  in  the  characters  of  Passion  and  Pa- 
tience." 

Associated  with  this  disinterestedness  of  spir- 
it, was  a  singular  PRACTICAL  RELIANCE  ON  PROV- 
IDENCE, in  all  the  most  minute  and  seemingly 
indifferent  affairs  of  his  life.  He  was  emphatic- 
ally, to  use  his  own  expression,  "  a  pupil  of 
signs" — waiting  for  and  following  the  leadings 
and  openings  of  divine  providence  in  his  affairs. 
I  once  consulted  him  throughout  a  very  deli- 
cate and  perplexing- affair.  In  one  stage  of  it, 
he  said  to  me — ^  You  have  not  done  this  thing 
exactly  as  I  should  have  felt  my  mind  led  to 
do  it.  1  fee!  mvself  in  such  cases  like  a  child 
in  the  mi<!;!leof  an  intricate  andperplexed  wood. 
T»¥0  considerations  weigh  with  me  :  first — If  I 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  23 

could  see  all  the  involutions,  and  relations,  and 
bearings,  and  consequences  of  the  affair,  then 
I  might  feel  myself  able  to  move  forward  :  but 
secondly — I  know  not  one  of  them,  not  even 
the  shadow  of  one,  nay,  hardly  the  probability 
of  such  and  such  issues.  Then  I  am  driven  to 
simple  reliance.  I  have  never  found  God  fail 
me  in  such  cases.  When  1  am  utterly  lost  and 
confounded  I  look  for  openings,  clear  and  evi- 
dent to  my  own  conviction.  1  have  a  warrant 
for  all  this.  Our  grand  danger  with  reference 
to  Providence  is,  that  we  should  walk  as  men: 
— Are  ye  not  carnal,  and  walk  as  men  ?" 

On  another  occasion  he  said — tfc  We  make 
too  little  of  the  subject  of  Providence.  My 
mind  is  by  nature  so  intrepid  and  sanguine,  and 
it  has  so  often  led  me  to  anticipate  God  in  his 
guidings.  to  my  severe  loss,  that  perhaps  [  am 
now  too  suspicious  and  dilatory  in  following 
him.  However,  this  is  a  maxim  with  me — 
that,  when  I  am  waiting  with  a  simple,  child- 
like spirit  for  openings  and  guidings,  and  imag- 
ine 1  preceive  them,  God  would  either  prevent 
the  semblance  of  them  from  rising  up  before 
me,  if  these  were  not  his  leadings  in  reality,  or 
he  would  preserve  me  from  deeming  them  such ; 
and  therefore  I  always  follow  what  appears  to 
be  my  dnty  without  hesitation  " 

But  the  spring  of  all  these  Christian  virtues, 
'and  the  master-grace  of  his  mind,  was  FAITH. 
His  whole  spirit  and  character  were  a  living 
illustration  of  that  definition  of  the  apostle — 
Faith  is  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evi- 
dence of  things  not  seen  I  He  appeared  to  me 


24  CHARACTER   OF  MR.  CECIL. 

never  to  be  exercised  with  doubts  and- fears. 
His  magnanimity  entered  most  strikingly  into 
his  religious  character.  He  was  convinced 
and  satisfied  by  all  the  divine  declarations  and 
promises — and  he  left  himself,  with  unsuspect- 
ing confidence,  in  God's  hands.* 

1  quote  Mr.  Wilson's  testimony  to  the  PA- 
TIKNCE  of  our  friend  UNDER  AFFLICTIONS.  u  He 
was  not  only,  in  opposition  to  all  the  tenden- 
cies of  his  natural  dispositions,  resigned,  but 
cheerful  under  his  trials.  I  have  seen  him  re- 
peatedly, at  his  Living  in  the  country,  return 
from  his  ride  racked  with  pain  ;  pale,  emaciat- 
ed, speechless.  I  have  seen  him  throw  him- 
self all  along  upon  his  sofa,  on  his  face,  and 
cover  his  forehead  with  his  hands  ;  and  there, 
without  an  expression  of  complaint,  endure  the 
paroxysm  of  his  disorder:  and  1  have  been  as- 
tonished to  observe  him  rise  up  in  an  instant, 
with. his  wonted  dignity,  and  enter  upon  con- 
versation with  cheerfulness  and  vigor.  He  has 
often  acknowledged  to  me,  that  the  anguish  he 
felt  was  like  a  dagger  plunged  into  his  side. 

*  Mr.  Wilson  justly  remarks  of  our  friend,  that 
u  the  determination  and  grandeur  of  his  mind  display- 
ed his  faith  to  peculiar  advantage.  This  divine  prin- 
ciple quite  realized  and  substantiated  to  him  the  things 
which  are  not  seen  and  eternal.  It  was  absolutely  like 
another  sense.  The  things  of  time  were  as  nothing. 
Every  thing  that  came  before  him  was  referred  to  a 
spiritual  standard.  His  one  great  object  was  fixed,  and 
this  object  engrossed  his  whole  soul.  Here  his  foot  stood 
immoveable,  as  on  a  rock.  His  hold  on  the  truths  of 
the  Scriptures  was  so  firm,  that  he  acted  on  them  boldly 
and  unreservedly.  He  went  all  lengths,  and  risked 
all  consequences,  on  the  word  and  promise  oi  God," 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  25 

and  that  through  a  whole  summer  he  has  not 
had  two  night*  free  from  tormenting  pain.  Such 
were  his  sufferings  tor  ten  or  twelve  years 
previous  to  his  last  illness.  And  yet  this  was 
the  man,  or  rather  this  was  the  Christian,  from 
whose  lips  1  never  heard  a  murmuring  word." 

It  is  almost  needless  to  add  lhat  Mr.  Cecil 
possesed  REMARKABLE  DECISION  OF  CHARACTER. 
When  he  went  to  Oxford  he  had  made  a  reso- 
lution of  restricting  himself  to  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  daily,  in  playing  on  the  violin;  'on  which 
instrument  he  greatiy  excelled,  and  of  which 
he  was  extravagantly  fond  :  hut  he  found  it  im- 
practicable to  adhere  to  his  determination  :  and 
had  so  frequently  to  lament  the  loss  of  time  in 
this  fascinating  amusement,  that  with  the  nohle 
spirit  which  characterized  him  through  life, 
he  cut  his  strings,  and  never  afterward  repla- 
ced them.  He  studied  for  a  painter;  and,  af- 
ter he  had  changed  his  object,  retained  a  fond- 
ness and  a  taste  for  the  art:  he  was  once  call- 
ed to  visit  a  sick  lady,  in  whose  room  there 
was  a  painting  which  so  strongly  attracted  his 
notice,  that  he  found  his  attention  diverted 
from  the  sick  person,  and  absorbed  by  the  paint- 
ing :  from  that  moment  he  formed  the  resolu- 
tion of  mortifying  a  taste,  which  he  found 
so  intrusive,  and  so  obstructive  to  him  in  his 
nobler  pusuits ;  and  determined  never  after- 
ward to  frequent  the  exhibition. 

Nor  was  his  INTRKPID  AND  INFLEXIBLE  FIRM- 
NESS less  conspicuous,  whenever  the  interests 
of  truth  and  the  honor  of  Christ  were  concern- 
ed. The  world  in  arms  would  not  have  appal- 
3* 


26  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

led  him,  while  the  glory  of  Christ  was  in  his 
view.  Nor  do  I  believe  that  he  would  hare 
hesitated  for  a  moment,  after  he  had  given  to 
nature  her  just  tribute  of  feeling  and  of  tears, 
to  go  forth  from  his  family,  and  join  "  the  no- 
hie  army  of  martyrs"  who  expired  in  the  flames 
in  Smithfield,  had  the  honor  of  his  Master  call- 
ed him  to  this  sacrifice  ;  nor  would  his  knees 
have  trembled,  nor  his  look  changed. 

Yet  I  cannot  hut  add  that  this  firmness  never 
degenerated  into  rudeness.  He  knew  and  ob- 
served all  those  decencies  of  life,  which  render 
mutual  intercourse  agreeable;  and  he  had  that 
ease  of  manner,  among  all  classes  of  society, 
which  bespoke  perfect  self-possession  and  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  world.  His  ad- 
dress in  meeting  the  manners  and  habits  of 
thinking  of  persons  of  rank,  either  when  they 
were  inquiring  into  religion  or  under  affliction, 
was  perhaps  scarcely  to  be  equalled. 

The  association^  in  our  friend's  mind  were 
often  of  a  very  humorous  kind.  He  had  a 
strong  natural  turn  for  associations  of  this  na- 
ture, which  threw  a  great  vivacity  and  charm 
over  his  familiar  conversation — employed  as 
it  was,  in  the  main,  like  every  faculty  of  his 
mind,  for  useful  ends.  He  was  fully  aware, 
however,  of  the  danger  of  possessing  such  a 
faculty,  and  the  temptations  to  which  it  expos- 
ed him  ;  prompted  and  supported  as  it  was  by 
a  buoyancy  of  spirits,  which  even  great  and 
lengthened  pain  could  scarcely  subdue.  I  have 
looked  at  him,  and  listened  to  him,  with  aston- 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  27 

ishment-when,  meeting  with  a  few  other  young- 
men  occasionally  at  his  house,  we  have  found 
him  dejected  and  worn  out  with  pain — stretch- 
ed on  his  sofa,  and  declining  to  join  in  our  con- 
versation— till  he  caught  an  interest  in  what 
was  passing — when  the  question  of  an  inquir- 
ing or  burdened  conscience  has  roused  him  to 
an  exertion  of  his  great  mind — he  has  risen 
from  his  sofa — he  has  forgot  his  suffering — and 
has  left  us  nothing  to  do  but  to  admire  and  treas- 
ure up  most  profound  and  impressive  remarks 
on  -the  Scripture,  on  the  heart,  and  on  the 
world. 

The  mention  of  his  humor  and  his  vivacity 
of  spirits  leads  me  to  remark,  that  I  am  not 
writing  a  panegyric,  but  drawing  a  character. 
No  likeness  can  be  faithful,  while  the  best 
original  is  such  as  he  must  be  in  the  present 
state,  if  it  carry  no  shades.  I  have  no  wish  to 
conceal  the  shades  of  this  extraordinary  char- 
acter. Sternness  and  levity  were  the  two  con- 
stitutional evils,  which  most  severely  exercised 
him.  They  seem  to  have  been  the  necessary 
result,  in  an  imperfect  being,  of  the  union  of 
that  masculine  and  original  vigor  with  humor 
and  an  ardent  fancy,  which  met  in  the  struct- 
ure of  his  mind.  So  far,  indeed,  had  grace  tri- 
umphed over  these  constitutional  enemies  that 
the  very  opposite  features  were  the  most  pro- 
minent in  his  character;  and  no  one  could  ap- 
proach him  without  feeling  himself  with  a  most 
TENDER  and  SERIOUS  mind.  I  speak  of  those  oc- 
casional ebullitions,  which  tended  to  remind 
him,  that,  though  he  was  invested  with  a  new 


28  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

and  triumphant  nature,  he  was  yet  at  home  in 
the  body,  and  subject  to  the  recurrence  of  his 
constitutional  infirmities. 

Yet,  though  Mr.  Cecil  felt  occasionally  tempt- 
ations to  levity,  through  the  buoyancy  and  spring 
of  his  animal  spirits,  his  prevailing  temper  was 
of  a  quite  opposite  description.  A  sensibility 
of  spirit,  with  his  view  of  human  nature  and 
of  the  world,  threw  a  cast  of  MELANCHOLY  over 
his  mind.  He  was  far  more  disposed  to  weep 
over  the  guilt  and  misery  of  man,  than  to  smile 
at  his  follies.  u  1  have,"  said  he,  u  a  salient 
principle  in  me.  My  spirits  never  sink.  Yet 
I  have  a  strong  dash  of  melancholy.  It  is  a 
high  and  exquisite  feeling.  When  1  first  wake 
in  the  morning,  1  could  often  weep  with  pleas- 
ure. The  holy  calm — the  silence — the  fresh- 
ness— thrill  through  my  soul.  At  such  moments 
I  should  feel  the  presence  of  any  person  to  be 
instrusion  and  impertinence,  and  common  affairs 
nauseous.  The  stillness  of  an  empty  house  is 
paradise  to  me.  The  man  who  has  never  felt 
thus  cannot  be  made  to  understand  what  I 
mean." 

"  Hooker's  dying-  thought,"  he  added,  "  is 
congenial  to  my  spirit.  c  I  am  going  to  leave 
a  world  disordered,  and  church  disorganized, 
for  a  world  and  a  church  where  every  angel 
and  every  rank  of  angels  stand  before  the 
throne  in  the  very  post  God  has  assigned  them.' 
1  am  obliged  habitually  to  turn  my  eye  from 
the  wretched  disorders  of  the  world  and  the 
church,  to  the  beauty,  harmony,  meekness,  and 
glory  of  a  better  world." 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  29 

On  another  occasion,  he  said — "  I  have  been 
long  in  the  habit  of  viewing  every  thing  a- 
round  me  as  in  a  state  of  ALIENATION.  1  have 
no  hold  on  my  dearest  comforts.  My  children 
must  separate  from  me.  One  has  his  lot  cast 
in  one  place,  and  another  elsewhere.  It  may 
be  my  particular  leading,  but  1  have  never  lean- 
ed toward  my  comforts  without  finding  them 
give  way.  A  sharp  warning  has  met  me — 
4  These  are  aliens,  and  as  an  alien  live  thou  a- 
mong  them.'  >  We  may  use  our  comforts  by  the 
way.  We  may  take  up  the  pitcher  to  drink, 
but  the  moment  we  begin  to  admire,  God  will 
in  love  dash  it  to  pieces.  But  1  feel  no  such 
alienation  from  the  church.  I  am  united  to 
Christ,  and  to  all  his  glorified  and  Irving  mem- 
bers, by  an  indissoluble  bond.  Here  my  mind 
can  centre  and  sympathize,  without  suspicion 
or  fear." 

"  1  feel,"  he  would  say,  "  a  congeniality  with 
the  character  of  Jeremiah.  I  seem  to  under- 
stand him.  I  could  approach  him,  and  feel  en- 
couraged to  familiarity.  It  is  not  so  with  Elijah 
or  Ezekiel.  There  is  a  rigor  and  severity  a- 
bout  them,  which  seem  to  repel  me  to  a  dis- 
tance, and  excite  reverence  rather  than  sym- 
pathy and  love." 

In  a  very  interesting  case  on  which  I  con- 
sulted him,  he  gave  me  a  striking  view  of  this 
feature  in  his  character — u  I  should  have  fal- 
len myself  into  an  utterly  different  mode  of 
conducting  the  affair.  But  you  have  not  the 
melancholy  in  your  constitution  which  I  have, 
and  therefore  to  look  for  my  mode  of  thinking 


30  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

in  you  would  be  expecting  what  ought  not  to 
be  expected.  This  is  a  strong-  alternative  in 
3'our  dispensation.  Now  I  have  long  been  in 
the  habit  of  viewing  every  thing  of  that  as- 
pect rather  in  a  melancholy  light.  You  are 
standing  on  the  justice,  the  reason,  the  truth 
of  your  cause.  I  should  have  heard  God  say- 
ing— fc  Son  of  man,  follow  me.5  It  would 
have  led  me  into  a  speculative — mystical 
sort  of  way.  I  should  have  seen  in  it  the 
flood  that  is  sweeping  over  the  earth — the  ut- 
ter bankruptcy  of  all  human  affairs.  Most  men, 
if  they  had  stood  by  and  compared  our  conduct, 
would  have  commended  yours  as  rational,  but 
condemned  mine  as  enthusiastic — as  connecting 
things  together  which  had  no  proper  connex- 
ion ;  but  this  is  my  way  of  viewing  every  al- 
terative in  my  dispensation." 

ctThe  heart,"  said  he,  "  must  be  divorced 
from  its  idols.  Age  does  a  great  deal  in  cur- 
ing the  man  of  his  frenzy ;  but,  if  God  has  a 
special  work  for  a  man,  he  takes  a  shorter  and 
sharper  course  with  him.  Stand  ready  for  it. 
I  have  been  in  both  schools.  Bleeding  and 
cauterizing  have  done  much  for  me,  and  age 
has  done  much  also — Can  I  any  longer  taste 
what  I  eat  or  what  I  drink  ?" 

Though  the  Memoir  of  Mr.  Cecil's  life,  and 
the  Letters  which  are  subjoined,  bear  ample 
testimonj'  to  the  TENDERNTESS  OF  HIS  RELATIVE 
AFFECTIONS,  yet  I  cannot  but  add  here  what  a 
friend  wrote  on  visiting  him,  many  years  be- 
fore his  decease,  at  a  time  when  he  was  ex- 
pecting the  death  of  Mrs.  Cecil  :— "  Mrs.  Cecil 
was  ill.  I  called  on  Mr.  Cecil.  I  found  him 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  31 

in  -his  study,  sitting  over  his  Bible  in  great 
sorrow.  His  tears  fell  so  fast,  that  he  could 
utter  only  broken  sentences.  He  said,  6  Chris- 
tians do  well  to  speak  of  the  grace,  love,  and 
goodness  of  God;  but  we  must  remember  that 
he  is  a  holy  and  jealous  God.  Judgment  must 
begin  at  the  house  of  God.  This  severe  stroke 
is  but  a  farther  call  to  me  to  arise  and  shake 
myself.  My  hope  is  still  firm  in  God.  He, 
who  sends  the  stroke,  will  bear  me  up  under 
it;  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  if  I  saw  the  whole 
of  his  design  I  should  say,  c  Let  her  be  taken  !' 
Yet,  while  there  is  life,  I  cannot  help  saying, 
;  Spare  her  another  year,  that  I  may  be  a  lit- 
tle prepared  for  her  loss !'  I  know  I  have 
higher  ground  of  comfort :  but  I  shall  deeply 
feel  the  taking  away  of  the  dying  lamp.  Her 
excellence  as  a  wife  and  a  mother,  I  am 
obliged  to  keep  out  of  sight  or  I  should  be 
overwhelmed.  All  I  can  do,  is,  to  go  from 
text  to  text,  as  a  bird  from  spray  to  spray. 
Our  Lord  said  to  his  disciples,  Where  is  your 
faith  ?  God  has  given  her  to  be  my  comfort 
these  many  years,  and  shall  I  not  trust  him 
for  the  future  ?  This  is  only  a  farther  and 
more  expensive  education  for  the  work  of 
the  ministry :  it  is  but  saying  more  closely, 
1  Will  you  pay  the  price  ?'  If  she  should  die, 
I  shall  request  all  my  friends  never  once  to 
mention  her  name  to  me.  I  can  gather  no 
help  from  what  is  called  friendly  condolence. 
Job's  friends  understood  grief  better,  when 
they  sat  down  and  spake  not  a  word." 

Our  departed   friend  was,  at  once,  a  public 


32  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

and  a  RETIRED  man.  While  his  sacred  office,  ex- 
ercised for  many  years  in  a  conspicuous  sphere 
brought  him  much  before  the  world,  his  turn 
of  mind  was  retired — he  courted  solitude — 
he  held  converse  there  with  God,  and  his  own 
great  spirit  mingled  with  the  mighty  dead  ;  he 
had  such  a  practical  knowledge  and  deep  im- 
pression of  the  nothingness  of  the  whole  world 
compared  with  spiritual  and  eternal  realities, 
and  he  had  so  deeply  felt  and  so  thoroughly 
despised  its  lying  pretensions  to  meet  the  wants 
and  to  satisfy  the  longings  of  the  immortal  soul, 
that  it  was  no  sacrifice  to  him  to  turn  away 
from  the  shows  and  pursuits  of  life,  and  to  shut 
out  ail  the  splendor  and  seductions  of  the  world. 

Yet  this  retired  spirit  was  not  unsocial,  mo- 
rose, or  repulsive.  No  one  called  him  from 
his  retirement  to  ask  spiritual  counsel,  but  he 
was  met  with  tenderness  and  urbanity.  No  con- 
genial mind  encountered  his,  without  eliciting 
sparks  both  of  benevolence  and  wisdom.  Not 
a  child  in  his  family  could  carry  its  little  com- 
plaints to  him,  but  he  would  stop  the  career 
of  his  mind  to  listen  and  relieve. 

His  study  was  his  favorite  retreat.  His  sta- 
tion exposed  him  to  constant  interruptions, 
some  necessary  and  others  arising  from  the  in- 
judiciousness  of  those  who  applied  to  him. 
it  was  not  unusual  with  him  to  make  use  of 
his  power  of  abstraction  on  these  occasions. 
Time  was  too  valuable  to  be  lavished  away 
on  the  inconsideration  of  some  of  those,  who 
thought  it  necessary  to  call  on  him.  It  was 
generally  his  practice,  not  immediately  to  obey 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  33 

a  summons  from  his  study,  but,  when  he  knew 
he  had  to  do  with  persons  who  would  occupy 
much  of  his  time  by  a  long  conversation  before 
the  business  was  brought  forward,  rather  than 
hurt  their  feelings  he  would  carry  down  in  his 
mind  the  train  of  thought  which  he  was  pursu- 
ing in  his  study,  and,  while  that  which  was  be- 
side the  purpose  played  on  his  ear,  his  mind 
was  following  the  subject  on  which  it  had  en- 
tered before. 

Some  men  are  at  home  in  society  ;  the  wide 
world  is  their  dwelling-place  ;  they  are  known 
and  read  of  all  men  ;  they  have  a  peculiar  tal- 
ent for  improving  mixed  society.  But  this  was 
not  the  character  of  Mr.  Cecil.  He  unfolded 
himself,  indeed,  to  his  friends  ;  but  those  friends 
could  not  but  feel,  that,  when  they  broke  in 
on  his  retirement  for  any  other  objects  than 
what  were  connected  with  his  high  calling, 
they  were  intruders  on  inestimable  time.  I 
had  indeed,  the  privilege  and  happiness  of  free 
access  to  him  at  all  times,  for  a  considerable 
course  of  years,  while  I  was  his  assistant  in 
the  ministry  ;  but,  for  the  reasons  just  assign- 
ed, though  I  was  a  diligent  observer  of  his  mind 
and  habits,  I  feel  myself  not  prepared  to  speak 
fully  of  his  more  domestic  and  retired  charac- 
ter. 

u  Retirement,"  he  said,  u  is  my  grand  ordi- 
nance. Considerations  govern  me.  Death  is 
a  mighty  consideration  with  me.  The  utler 
vanity  of  every  thing  under  the  sun  is  another. 
If  a  man  wishes  to  influence  my  mind,, he  must 
assign  considerations  ;  and,  if  he  assigns  one  or 
4 


34  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

two  which  will  weigh  well,  I  seem  impatient 
to  stop  him  if  he  is  proceeding  to  assign  more. 
He  has  given  me  a  consideration,  and  THAT  suf- 
fices. The  '  Night  Thoughts'  is  a  great  hook 
with  me,  notwithsanding  its  glaring  imperfec- 
tions it  realizes  death  and  vanity.  And,  because 
this  is  the  frame  and  habit  of  my  own  mind, 
my  ministry  partakes  of  it;  and  must  partake 
of  it,  if  I  would  preach  naturally  and  from  my 
heart.17 

In  surveying  the  personal  character  of  Mr. 
Cecil,  it  remains  to  speak  somewhat  more  fully 
of  his  intellectual  powers. 

His  IMAGINATION  was  not  so  much  of  the  play- 
ful and  elegant,  as  bold,  inventive,  striking,  and 
instinctively  judicious  and  discriminating. 

His  TASTE  in  the  sister  arts  of  Painting,  Poe- 
try, and  Music  was  refined,  and  his  judgment 
learned.  In  his  younger  days  he  had  studied 
and  excelled  in  painting  and  music;  and,  though 
he  laid  them  aside  that  he  might  devote  all  his 
powers  to  his  work,  yet  the  savor  of  them  so 
far  remained,  that  I  have  been  witness  innu- 
xnerable  times,  both  in  pjablic  and  private,  to 
the  felicity  of  his  illustrations  drawn  from  these 
subjects,  and  to  the  superiority  that  his  intimate 
knowledge  of  them  gave  him  over  most  per- 
son«  with  whom  they  happened  to  be  brought 
forward.  His  taste,  when  young,  was  for  Ital- 
ian music  ;  but,  in  his  latter  years,  he  was  fond  - 
of  the  G^rn):ui  style,  or  rather  the  softer  Mo- 
ravian. Anthems,  or  any  pieces  wherein  the 
woHfe  were  reiterated,  he  disliked,  for  pub- 
lic worship  especially,  as  they  sacrificed  the  re- 
al spirit  of  devotion  too  much  to  the  music.  His 


CHARACTER,  OF  MR.  CECIL.  35 

feelings  on  this  subject  were  exquisite.  u  Pure, 
spiritual,  sublime  devotion,"  he  would  say, 
"should  be  the  soul  of  public  music."  He 
often  lamented  thve  introduction  of  any  other 
style  of  architecture  in  places  of  worship,  beside 
that  winch  was  so  peculiarly  appropriate,  and 
which,  because  it  was  so,  called  up  associations 
best  suited  to  the  purposes  of  meeting,  He  said 
most  strikingly-"!  never  enter  a  Gothic  church, 
without  feeling  myself  impressed  with  some- 
thing of  this  idea—^  Within  these  walls  has  been 
resounded  for  centuries,  by  successive  genera- 
tions, *Thou  art  the  King  of  Glory,  O  Christ! 
The  very  damp  that  trickles  down  the  walls, 
and  the  unsightly  green  that  moulders  upon 
the  pillars,  are  far  more  pleasing  to  me  from 
their  associations,  than  the  trim,  finished,  clas- 
sic, heathen  piles  of  the  present  fashion. 

His  powers  of  comparison,  analogy,  and  JUDG- 
MENT have  been  rarely  equalled.  These  had 
been  exercised  so  long  and  with  so  much  en- 
ergy on  all  the  conditions  and  relations  around 
him — on  the  word  of  God — on  his  own  mind — 
on  the  history,  opinions,  passions,  prejudices, 
and  motives  of  men  in  every  age,  and  of  every 
character  and  station — on  moral  causes  and  ef- 
fects— on  every  subject  that  can  come  within 
the  grasp  of  a  philosophic  mind — that  the  result 
was  a  WISDOM  so  prominent  and  commanding, 
that  every  man  felt  himself  with  a  mind  of 
the  very  first  order  both  in  capability  and  ac- 
quirement. In  some  case?,  wherein  my  wish- 
es, perhaps,  formed  my  opinions;  and,  trying 
to  hide  the  truth  from  myself,  I  have  asked  his 
opinion  as  a  confirmation  of  my  own — he  has 


36  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  <CECIL, 

unmasked  my  heart  to  itself,  by  his  wise  and 
searching  replies.  His  decisions  were  more 
according  to  circumstances  than  in  most  men  ; 
and,  when  he  gave  them,  it  would  generally 
be  with  a  declaration  that  other  circumstances 
might  wholly  change  the  aspect  of  the  thing  ; 
and  he  did  this  in  such  a  manner — if  I  may 
judge  by  my  owtf  case — as  often  to  make  a  man 
look  about  him,  and  bethink  himself  what  a 
treacherous  and  blind  party  he  had  to  transact 
with  in  his  bosom. 

To  those  who  did  not  know  him  intimately, 
he  might  sometimes  appear  to  want  a  quick- 
ness of  perception.  The  appearance  of  this 
faculty  is  often  assumed,  where  God  has  not 
given  it.  Where  the  mind  does  decide  rapidly, 
its  conclusions  are  generally  partial  and  defec- 
tive, in  proportion  to  their  rapidity.  Intuition 
is  not  a  faculty  of  the  present  condition  of  be- 
ing, whatever  it  may  be  of  that  toward  which 
we  are  advancing.  He  affected  no  such  qual- 
ity, yet  he  possessed  more  of  it  than  most  men. 
When  he  did  not  fully  understand  what  was  ad- 
dressed to  him,  he  said  so  ;  and  his  mind  was  so 
familiar  with  the  difficulty  of  discovering  truth 
through  the  veils  and  shades  thrown  over  her  by 
prejudice  and  self-love,  that  he  did  not  hastily 
bring  himself  to  think  that  he  possessed  your 
full  meaning. 

His  good  sense  and  wisdom  led  him  to  AVOID 

ALL  PECULIARITY  AND  ECCENTRICITY.        He  Was  de- 

cidedly  adverse  to  every  thing  of  this  nature. 
u  When  any  thing  peculiar  appears,'*'  he  would 
say,  4t  in  a  religious  man's  manners,  or  dress, 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  37 

©r  furniture,  this  is  supposed  by  the  world  to 
constitute  his  religion.  A  clergyman  indeed  is 
allowed  by  common  consent,  and  indeed  it  is 
but  decent  in  him,  to  have  every  thing  about 
him  plain  and  substantial  rather  than  ornamen- 
tal and  fashionable." 


THE  PERSONAL  CHARACTER  of  Mr.  Cecil  had  a 
manifest  influence  on  his  MINISTERIAL,  We 
find  him  frequently  accounting  for  those  views 
and  feelings  which  prevailed  in  his  ministry, 
by  a  reference  to  his  constitution  and  his  ear- 
ly history. 

His  SENTIMENTS  ON  THE  MINISTERIAL  OFFICE  are 

scattered  through  his  writings,  as  this  was  ever 
present  to  his  mind.  Wherever  he  was,  and 
whatever  was  his  employment,  he  was  always 
the  Christian  minister.  He  was  ever  on  the 
watch  to  do  the  work  of  an  Evangelist;  and  to 
make  Jull  proof  of  his  ministry. 

I  have  collected  together  his  thoughts  on 
this  subject  in  some  sections  of  his  4t  Remains  ;'* 
and  I  think  it  impossible  that  any  young  minis- 
ter should  read  these  thoughts,  without  imbib- 
ing a  higher  estimation  of  his  sacred  office. 
More  will  be  found  on  these  points  in  the  fol- 
lowing views  of  his  ministerial  Character  gath- 
ered from  his  own  lips. 

These  views  were  most  striking  and  sub- 
lime. "  A  minister  is  a  Levite.  In  general, 
he  has,  and  he  is  to  have,  no  inheritance  among 
his  brethren.  Other  men  are  not  Levites. 

They  must  recur  to  means,  from  which  a  min- 
4* 


38  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

ister  has  no  right  to  expect  any  thing.  Their 
affairs  are  all  the  little  transactions  of  this 
world.  But  a  minister  is  called  and  set  apart 
for  a  high  and  sublime  business.  His  transac- 
tions are  to  be  between  the  living  and  the  dead 
— between  heaven  and  earth ;  and  he  must 
stand  as. with  wings  on  his  shoulders.  He  must 
look,  therefore,  for  every  thing  in  his  affairs 
to  be  done  for  him  and  before  his  eyes.  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  conceive  how  a  minister,  with  right 
feelings,  can  plot  and  contrive  for  a  living.  If 
he  is  told  that  there  is  such  a  thing  for  him  if 
he  will  make  such  an  application,  and  that  it 
is  to  be  so  obtained  and  so  only,  all  is  well — 
but  not  a  step  farther.  It  is  in  vain,  however, 
to  put  any  man  on  acting  in  this  manner,  if  he 
be  not  a  Levite  in  principle^and  in  character. 
These  must  be  the  expressions  of  a  nature  com- 
municated to  him  from  God — a  high  principle 
of  faith  begetting  simplicity.  He  must  bean 
eagle  towering  toward  heaven  on  strong  pin- 
ions. The  barn-door  hen  must  continue  to 
scratch  her  grains  out  of  the  dunghill." 

He  thought  that  the  life  of  a  minister,  with 
respect  to  worldly  affairs,  ought  to  be,  pecul- 
iarly above  that  of  other  men,  a  life  of  faith. 
It  was  his  maxim,  to  lay  out  no  money  unne- 
cessarily— and,  with  this  principle,  he  regard- 
ed his  purse  as  in  God^s  hand,  and  found  it  like 
the  barrel  of  meal  and  the  cruise  of  oil.  He 
confessed  that  he  could  advise  this  conduct  in 
no  case  but  in  that  of  a  Christian  minister, 
who  was  a  wise  and  prudent,  as  well  as  right- 
hearted  manager  of  his  affairs.  His  habit  was, 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  39 

to  be  the  child  of  simplicity  and  faith — acting 
as  a  servant  of  God,  on  those  principles  which 
he  judged  most  suitable  to  his  character  and 
station. 

He  had  exalted  ideas  of  ministerial  authori- 
ty— not  the  authority  which  results  mere- 
ly from  office,  but  from  office  united  with  per- 
sonal character — not  the  claims  of  priestly  ar- 
rogance, but  the  claims  of  priestly  dignity. 
"  1  never  choose  to  forget  that  I  am  a  PRIEST, 
because  I  would  not  deprive  myself  of  the  right 
to  dictate  in  my  ministerial  capacity.  1  cannot 
allow  a  man,  therefore,  to  come  to  me  merely 
as  a  friend,  on  his  spiritual  affairs,  because  I 
should  have  no  authority  to  say  to  him  c  Sir, 
you  must  do  so  and  so.'  I  cannot  suffer  my 
best  friends  to  dictate  to  me  in  any  thing  which 
concerns  my  ministerial  duties.  I  have  often 
had  to  encounter  this  spirit ;  and  there  would 
be  no  end  of  it,  if  I  did  not  check  and  resist  it. 
I  plainly  tell  them  that  they  know  nothing  of 
the  matter.  I  ask  them  if  it  is  decent,  that  a 
man  immersed  in  other  concerns  should  pre- 
tend to  know  my  affairs  and  duties,  better  than 
myself,  who,  as  they  ought  to  believe,  make 
them  the  study  of  my  life.  I  have  been  dis- 
gusted— deeply  disgusted — at  the  manner  in 
which  some  men  of  flaming  religious  profes- 
sion talk  of  certain  preachers.  They  estimate 
them  just  as  Garrick  would  have  estimated 
the  worth  of  players,  or  as  Handel  would  have 
ranged  an  orchestra.  '  Such  an  one  is  clever 
— he  is  a  master' — Clever ! — a  master  ! — Worth 
and  character  and  dignity  are  of  no  weight  in 
the  scale." 


40  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

These  views  are  just  and  noble  ;  and  they 
are  suited  to  his  own  great  mind,  and  the  en- 
tire hold  which  his  office  had  on  his  heart. 
But. — listening  with  his  whoie  soul  to  that  in- 
junction, Meditate  oil  these  things,  give  thyself 
wholly  to  thetu — it  may  be  doubted  whether  he 
did  riot  sometimes  challenge  to  his  office  more 
respect  than  the  party  concerned  could  be  ex- 
pected to  allow  due. 

Mr.  Cecil's  PREPARATION  AND  TRAINING  FOR 
THIS  EXALTF,D  OFFICE  have  been  already  spok- 
en of  in  the  view  of  his  personal  character. 
This  was,  as  has  been  seen,  of  no  common  kind. 

His  QUALIFICATIONS  FOR  THE  DISCHARGE-  OF  THE 

MINISTRY  were  peculiar.  The  great  natural 
powers  which  God  had  given  him,  were  mould- 
ed and  matured  by  the  training  and  discipline 
through  which  he  was  led,  and  were  consecrat- 
ed by  grace  to  the  service  of  his  Master.  It 
will  not  be  requisite  to  recapitulate  what  has 
been  said  on  this  subject  I  shall  here  speak 
only  of  those  qualifications  which  were  more 
appropriate  to  him  as  a  public  teacher. 

His  LEARNING  consisted  more  in  the  knowledge 
of  other  men's  ideas,  than  in  an  accurate  ac- 
quaintance with  the  niceties  of  the  languages. 
Yet  he  was  better  acquainted  with  these,  than 
many  who  devote  a  disproportionate  time  to 
this  acquisition.  His  incessant  application, 
chiefly  by  candle-light,  when  at  Oxford,  to  the 
study  of  Greek,  of  which  he  was  enthusiasti- 
cally fond,  brought  on  an  almost  total  loss  of 
sight  for  six  months.  He  had  determined  to 
become  a  perfect  master  of  the  niceties  of  that 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  41 

refined  and  noble  language.  The  counsel, 
however,  which  he  received  from  Dr.  Bacon, 
and  which  is  recorded  in  his  u  Remains,"  under 
the  head  of  "  Miscellaneous  Remarks  on  the 
Christian  Ministry,"  put  him  on  proportioning 
his  attention  more  according  to  the  future  util- 
ity of  his  pursuits  than  he  had  heen  accustom- 
ed to.  "  I  was  struck  with  his  advice,"  he 
said.  "  1  had  an  unsettled  sort  of  religion,  hut 
enough  to  make  me  see  and  choose  the  truth 
which  he  set  before  me." 

So  solid  and  extensive  was^Mr.  Cecil's  real 
learning,  that  there  were  no  important  points, 
in  morals  or  religion,  on  which  he  had  not 
read  the  best  authors,  and  made  up  his  mind 
on  the  most  mature  deliberation  ;  nor  could 
any  topic  be  started  in  history  or  philosophy, 
on  subjects  of  art  or  of  science,  with  which  he 
was  not  found  more  generally  acquainted  than 
other  men.  But,  while  he  could  lay  these 
parts  of  learning  under  contribution  to  aid  him 
in  his  one  object  of  impressing  truth  on  man, 
he  was  a  master  in  the  learning  which  is  more 
peculiarly  appropriate  to-  his  profession.  He 
was  so  much  in  the  habit  of  daily  reading  the 
Scriptures  in  the  originals,  that,  as  he  told 
me,  he  went  to  this  employ  naturally  and  in- 
sensibly. He  limited  himself  to  no  stated  quan- 
tity ;  but,  as  his  time  allowed,  he  read  one  or 
two,  and  sometimes  five  or  six  chapters  daily. 

Mr.  Cecil  had  THE  POWER  OF  EXCITING  AND 
PRESERVING  ATTENTION  above  most  men.  All 
his  effort  was  directed,  first  to  engage  attention, 
and  then  to  repay  it — to  allure  curiosity,  and 
then  to  gratify  it. 


42  CHARACTER  OF  MR,  CECIL. 

Till  the  attention  was  gained  he  felt  that 
nothing  could  be  effected  on  the  mind  Some- 
times he  would  have  recourse  to  unusual  meth- 
ods, suited  indeed  to  his  auditory,  to  awaken  and 
fix  their  mind*.  u  [  was  once  preaching,'1  he 
said,  ;i  a  Charity  Sermon  where  the  congrega- 
tion was  very  large,  and  chiell)  o»  the  low.  r  or- 
der. I  found  it  impossible,  by  my  usual  method 
of  preaching1,  to  gam  their  attention.  It  was  in 
the  afternoon,  and  my  hearers  seemed  to  meet 
nothing  in  my  preaching,  which  was  capable 
of  rousing  them  out  of  the  stupefaction  of  a 
full  dinner.  Some  lounged,  and  some  turned 
their  hacks  on  me.  k  i  MU*T  HAVE  ATTENTION,' 
I  said  to  myself.  fc  1  WILL  be  heard.' — The 
case  was  desperate;  and,  in  despair,  1  sought 
a  desperate  remedy.  1  exclaimed  aloud,  kLast 
Monday  morning  a  man  was  hanged  at  Tyburn' 
— instantly  the  face  of  things  was  changed  ! 
All  was  silence  and  expectation  !  I  caught  their 
ear,  and  retained  it  through  the  Sermon."  This 
anecdote  leads  me  to  observe  that  Mr.  Cecil 
had,  in  an  unusual  degree,  the  talent  of  adapt- 
ing his  ministry  to  his  congregation.  While 
he  was  for  instance,  preaching  on  the  same  day 
at  Lothbury,  at  St.  John's  morning  and  after- 
noon, and  at  Spitalfields  in  the  evening — he 
found  four  congregations  at  these  places,  in 
many  respects,  quite  distinct  from  one  another ; 
and  yet  he  adapted  his  preaching,  with  admi- 
rable skill,  to  meet  their  habits  of  thinking. 

But  when  he  had  gained  the  attention,  he 
was  ever  on  the  watch  not  to  weary  it.  He 
seemed  to  have  continually  before  his  eyes  the 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  43 

sentiments  of  our  great  critic  and  moralist  :* 
"  Tediousness  is  the  most  fatal  of  all  faults; 
negligences  or  errors  are  single  and  local,  but 
tediousness  pervades  the  whole  ;  other  faults 
are  censured,  and  forgotten  ;  but  the  power  of 
tediousness  propagates  itself.  He  that  is  wea- 
ry the  tirst  hour,  is  more  weary  the  second  ; 
as  bodies  forced  into  motion,  contrary  to  their 
tendency,  pass  more  and  more  slowly  through 
every  successive  interval  of  space."  Mr.  Ce- 
cil would  say,  "  You  have  a  certain  quantity  of 
attention  to  work  on  :  make  the  best  use  of  it 
while  it  lasts.  The  iron  will  cool,  and  then 
nothing,  or  worse  than  nothing,  is  done.  If  a 
preacher  will  leave  unsaid  all  vain  repetitions^ 
and  watch  against  undue  length  in  his  entrance 
and  width  in  his  discussion,  he  may  limit  a  writ- 
ten sermon  to  half  an  hour,  and  one  from  notes 
to  forty  minutes;  and  this  time  he  should  not 
allow  himself  to  exceed,  except  on  special  oc- 
casions." 

His  POWER  OF  ILLUSTRATION  was  great  and 
versatile.  His  topics  were  chiefly  taken  from 
Scripture  and  from  life.  His  manner  of  illus- 
trating his  subjects  by  Scripture  examples,  was 
the  most  finished  I  have  ever  heard.  They 
were  never  introduced  violently  or  abruptly ; 
but  his  matter  was  so  moulded  in  preparation 
for  them,  by  a  few  well-turned  sentences,  that 
the  illustration  seemed  to  be  placed  in  the 
Scripture  almost  for  the  sake  of  the  doctrine. 
The  general  features  of  the  character  or  his- 
tory were  left  in  the  back-ground,  and  those 
*  Lives  of  the  Poets,  vol.  iii.  p.  35. 


44  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL, 

only  which  were  appropriate  to  the  matter  in 
hand  were  brought  forward,  and  were  thus  pre- 
sented with  great  force  to  the  mind.  His  tal- 
ent in  discriminating  the  striking  features,  and 
connecting  them  with  his  matter,  was  so  pecu- 
liar, that  the  histories  of  Abraham,  of  Jacob,  of 
David,  and  of  St.  Paul,  seemed  in  his  hands  to 
be  ever  new,  and  to  be  exhaustless  treasures 
of  illustration, 

The  turn  both  of  his  mind  and  of  his  experi- 
ence seemed  to  lead  him  to  this  method.  What 
he  did,  therefore,  with  ease  and  feeling,  it  was 
natural  should  be  done  frequently;  and,  ac- 
cordingly I  have  scarcely  ever  heard  a  sermon 
from  him  in  which  there  were  not  repeated 
exercises  of  this  peculiar  talent,  and  in  some 
sermons  almost  the  entire  subject  has  been 
treated  in  this  manner. 

This  talent  of  illustrating  his  subjects,  and 
particularly  of  seizing  incidents  for  improve- 
ment, gave  an  edge  to  bis  wise  admonitions  in 
private  ;  and  fixed  them  deep  in  the  memory. 
Riding  with  a  friend  in  a  very  windy  day,  the 
dust  was  so  troublesome,  that  his  companion 
wished  they  were  at  their  journey's  end,  where 
they  might  ride  in  the  fields  free  from  (hist ; 
and  this  wish  he  repeated  more  than  once 
while  on  the  road.  When  they  reached  the 
fields,  the  flies  so  teazed  his  friend's  horse, 
that  he  could  scarcely  keep  his  seat  on  the 
saddle.  On  his  bitterly  complaining,  u  Ah  ! 
Sir",  said  Mr.  Cecil,  u  when  you  were  in  the 
road  the  dust  was  your  only  trouble,  and  all 
your  anxiety  was  to  get  into  the  fields ;  you 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  45 

forgot  that  the  fly  was  there  !  Now  this  is  a 
true  picture  of  human  ^ife;  and  you  will  find 
it  so  in  all  the  changes  you  make  in  future. 
We  know  the  trials  of  our  present  situation ; 
but  the  next  will  have  trials,  and  perhaps  worse, 
though  they  may  be  of  a  different  kind." 

At  another  time,  the  same  friend  said  he 
should  esteem  it  a  favor,  if  he  would  tell  him 
of  any  thing  which  he  might  in  future  see  in 
his  conduct  which  he  thought  improper.  "Well, 
Sir !"  he  said,  u  many  a  man  has  directed  the 
watchman  to  call  him  early  in  the  morning", 
and  has  then  appeared  very  anxious  for  his 
coming  early;  but  the  watchman  has  come 
before  he  has  been  ready  for  him  !  I  have  seen 
many  people  very  desirous  of  being  told  their 
faults;  hut  1  have  seen  very  few  who  were 
pleased  when  they  received  the  information. 
However,  I  like  to  receive  an  invitation,  and 
I  have  no  reason  to  suppose  you  will  be  dis- 
pleased till  I  see  it  so.  I  shall  therefore  re- 
member that  you  have  asked  for  it." 

His  STYLE,  particularly  in  preaching  and  in, 
free  conversation,  was  easy  and  natural.  If  he 
ever  laboured  his  expression,  it  was  in  search 
of  emphasis,  rather  than  precision — of  words 
which  would  penetrate  the  soul,  rather  than 
round  his  period  and  float  in  the  ear.  He  con- 
sidered that  vigorous  conceptions  would  clothe 
themselves  in  the  fittest  expressions — 

Verbaque  provisam  rem  non  invita  se<^uentur. 

Or,  as  Milton  has  admirably  said — u  True  elo- 
quence I  find  to  be  none,  but  the  serious  and 


46  CHARACTER  OP  MR.  CECIL. 

hearty  love  of  truth  :  and  that,  whose  mind  so- 
ever is  fully  possessed  with  a  fervent  desire 
to  know  good  things,  and  with  the  dearest  char- 
ity to  infuse  the  knowledge  of  them  into  oth- 
ers, WHEN  SUCH  A  MAN  WOULD  SPEAK,  his  WOrds, 

like  so  many  nimble  and  airy  servitors,  trip  a- 
bout  him  at  command,  and  in  well-ordered  tiles, 
as  he  would  wish,  fall  aptly  into  their  own 
places." 

His  written  style  has  less  ease  than  that  of 
his  conversation  or  preaching.  He  excelled 
rather  in  strong  intuitive  sense,  than  in  a  train 
of  arguments  ;  and  more  in  the  liveliness  of  his 
thoughts,  than  in  their  arrangement.  He  would 
put  down  his  thoughts  as  they  arose — often  at 
separate  times,  and  as  suggested  by  the  occasion 
— and  was  not  always  nice  in  rejecting  obsolete 
expressions,  or  antithesis  in  sense.  This  occa- 
sioned a  want  of  flow  and  ease  in  many  parts 
of  his  writings,  which  was  obviated  by  the 
warmth  of  conversation  or  preaching. 

IMPRESSION  was  the  leading  feature  of  his  min- 
istry. Perhaps  the  INFORMATION  conveyed  by 
it  to  the  mind  was  not  sufficiently  systematic 
and  minute.  He  had  seen  so  much  the  evil  of 
spending  the  preacher's  time  in  doctrinal  state- 
ments, that  possibly  there  was  some  deficiency 
in  this  respect  in  his  own  practice.  When,  in- 
deed, he  had  to  introduce  religion  to  his  con- 
gregations at  St.  John's  or  Chobham,  on  his  first 
entering  on  those  charges,  he  dealt  with  them 
as  a  people  needing  information  on  first  princi- 
ples :  but  my  remark  applies  to  the  habit  and 
course  of  his  ministry.  For,  however  true  it  is, 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  47 

that,  when  a  man  becomes  a  serious  reader  of 
God's  word  he  must  grow  in  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth  ;  yet  many  will  still  read  the  Bible 
with  an  indiscriminating  mind,  unless  their  min- 
ister's statements  give  them,  not  only  a  lucid 
general  view  of  doctrines,  but  somewhat  of  a 
systematic  and  connected  view ;  and  not  a  few 
— buried  in  the  cares  of  the  world — will  de- 
rive all  their  notions  of  the  system  of  divine 
truth  from  what  they  hear  in  public. 

Mr.  Cecil  wrote  and  spoke  to  mankind.  He 
dealt  with  the  business  and  bosoms  of  men. 
An  energy  of  truth  prevailed  in  his  ministry, 
which  roused  the  conscience ;  and  abenevolence 
reigned  in  his  spirit,  which  seized  the  heart: 
yet  I  much  question  whether  the  prevailing 
effect  of  his  preaching  was  not  determination 
grounded  on  CONVICTION  and  ADMIRATION,  rather 
than  on  EMOTION.  When  in  perfect  health  and 
spirits,  and  master  of  his  subject,  his  elo- 
quence was  finished  and  striking :  but,  though 
there  was  often  a  tenderness  which  awakened 
corresponding  feelings  in  the  hearer,  yet  his 
eloquence  wanted  that  vehement  passion  which 
overpowers  and  carries  away  the  minds  of 

lers, 

— si  vis  me  flere,  dolendum  est 
Primum  ipsi  tibi 

bis  is  the  great  secret  for  getting  hold  of  the 
heart.  But  as  not  much  of  the  impassioned  en- 
tered into  the  composition  of  his  nature,  and 
he  was  at  the  same  time  pre-eminent  in  geinus 
and  judgment,  it  could  not  but  follow  that  ADMI- 
RATION should  affect  the  hearer  more  frequently 


4&  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

than  STRONG  FEELING.  A  friend  has  told  me  that 
he  has  often  lost  the  benefit  of  the  truth  which 
Mr.  Cecil  has  uttered,  in  admiration  of  the  ex- 
quisite manner  in  which  it  was  convened.  And 
I  have  again  and  again  detected  this  in  myself; 
and  found  I  have  been  watching  eagerly  for 
what  would  fall  next  from  him,  not  in  the  spirit 
•of  a  new-born  babe  that  desires  the  sincere  milk  of 
the  word  that  I  might  grow  thereby,  but  for  the 
gratification  of  a  mental  voluptuousness.  1  de- 
sire no  one  will  suppose  that  1  impute  to  him 
any  of  the  studied  artifices  of  eloquence.  No 
man  sought  more  than  he  did,  thai  his  hearers' 
faith  should  not  stand  in  the  wisdom  of  men,  but  in 
the  power  of  God,  No  man  more  sincerely  aim- 
ed to  have,  his  speech  and  his  preaching  not  with 
enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom,  but  in  demonstra- 
tion of  the  spirit  and  of  power:  yet,  moreover,  be- 
cause the  preacher  was  wise  he  still  taught  the  peo- 
ple knowledge ;  yea,  he  GAVE  GOOD  HEED,  and 
SOUGHT  OUT,  and  SET  IN  ORDER  the  messages  of 
divine  mercy.  The  preacher  SOUGHT  TO  FIND 
OUT  acceptable  words,  yet  that  which  was  written 
was  upright,  even  words  of  truth.  He  could  not 
but  treat  his  subjects  in  this  exquisite  manner, 
while  his  taste,  his  genius,  and  his  nature  re- 
mained ;  yet  this  could  not  but  be  sanctified  to 
his  Master's  honor,  while  he  retained  the  per- 
fect integrity,  the  deep  conviction,  and  the  sin- 
gleness of  eye  which  his  Master  had  given  him. 
That  it  was  the  farthest  possible  from  trick  and 
artifice  might  be  seen  in  his  most  familiar  con- 
versation ;  where  his  manner,  when  he  was  ful- 
ly called  out,  was  exactly  what  it  was  in  the 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL,  49 

pulpit.  His  mind  grasped  every  subject  firm- 
ly :  his  imagination  clothed  it  with  images — 
embodied  it — gave  it  life — called  up  number- 
less associations  and  illustrations  :  it  was  real- . 
ized  :  it  was  present  to  him:  his  taste  and 
judgment  enabled  him  to  seize  it  in  the  most 
striking  points  of  view. 

u  His  apprehensions  of  religion,"  Mr.  Wil- 
son most  justly  observes,  "  WERE  GRAND  and 
ELEVATED.  His  fine  powers,  governed  by  di- 
vine grace,  were  exactly  calculated  to  seize 
all  the  grandeur  of  the  Gospel.  The  stupen- 
dous magnitude  of  the  objects  which  the  Bible 
proposes  to"  man,  the  incomparable  sublimity 
of  eternal  pursuits,  the  astonishing  scheme  of 
redemption  by  an  incarnate  Mediator,  the  na- 
tive grandeur  of  a  rational  and  immortal  being 
stamped  with  the  impress  of  God,  the  fall  of 
this  being  into  sin,  and  poverty,  and  meanness, 
and  guilt,  his  recovery  by  grace  to  more  than 
his  original  dignity  in  the  love  and  service  of 
his  Creator,  filled  all  his  soul.  He  seemed 
often  to  labor  with  an  imagination  occupied 
with  his  noble  theme.  He  felt,  and  he  taught, 
that  no  other  subject  was  worthy  the  consider- 
ation of  man.  In  comparison  with  it,  he  led 
his  auditors  to  condemn  and  trample  on  all  the 
petty  objects  of  this  lower  world.  Its  meanness, 
its  uncertainty,  its  deceit, its  vanity,  its  vexation, 
its  nothingness,  he  set  fully  in  their  view.  He 
even  made  them  look  down  with  a  generous 
concern  on  those  who  were  buried  in  its  inter- 
ests, and  who  forgot,  amidst  the  toys  of  child- 
ren, the  real  business  of  life." 
5* 


50  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

Some  of  his  printed  sermons  are  perfect  mod- 
els of  sirr,<plicity,  vivacity,  and  effect.  That, 
for  instance,  on  the  u  Power  of  Failh." 

His  COUNTENANCE,  though  not  modelled  alto- 
gether after  the  artificial  rules  of  beauty,  beam- 
ed in  animated  conversation  and  in  the  pulpit, 
with  the  beauty  of  a  great  and  noble  mind. 
Dignity  and  benevolence  were  strongly  pour- 
trayed  there.  The  variety  of  its  expression 
was  admirable  :  nor  could  any  one  feel  the  full 
force  of  the  soul  which  he  threw  into  his  dis- 
courses, if  this  expression  was  concealed  from 
him  by  distance  or  situation.  His  ACTION  was 
graceful  and  forcible  :  latterly,  owing  perhaps 
to  his  increasing  infirmities  and  almost  uninter- 
rupted pain,  it  discovered,  I  think,  some  con- 
straint and  want  of  ease. 

There  was  a  FAMILIARITY  and  an  AUTHORITY 
in  his  manner,  which  to  strangers  sometimes 
appeared  dogmatism.  His  manner  was,  in  truth, 
like  that  of  no  other  man.  It  was  altogether 
original ;  and,  because  it  was  original,  it  some- 
times offended  those  who  had  no  other  idea  of 
manner  than  of  that  to  which  they  had  been 
accustomed.  Yet  even  the  prejudiced  could 
not  hear  him  with  indifference.  There  was  a 
dignity  and  command,  a  decision  and  energy,  a 
knowledge  of  the  heart  and  the  world,  an  up- 
rightness of  mind  and  a  desire  to  do  good,  and 
all  this  united  with  a  tenderness  and  affection, 
which  few  could  witness  without  some  favora- 
ble impressions. 

His  most  striking  sermons  were  generally 
those,  which  he  preached  from  very  short 
texts,  such  as — My  soul  hangeth  on  thee — All  my 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  51 

fresh  springs  are  in  thee — O  Lord !  teach  me  tin/ 
way — As  thy  day  w,  so  shall  thy  strength  be.  In 
these  sermons,  the  whole  subject  had  probably 
struck  him  at  once  ;  and  what  comes  in  this 
way  is  generally  found  to  be  more  natural  and 
forcible,  than  what  the  mind  is  obliged  to  ex- 
cogitate by  its  own  laborious  efforts  :  As  the 
subject  grows  out  of  the  state  of  the  mind  at 
the  time,  there  is  that  degree  of  affinity  be- 
tween them  which  occasions  the  mind  to  seize 
it  forcibly,  and  to  clothe  it  with  vivid  colors. 
A  train  of  the  most  natural  associations  presents 
itself,  as  one  link  draws  with  it  its  kindred  links. 
The  attention  is  engaged — the  mind  is  concen- 
trated— scripture  and  life  present  themselves 
without  effort,  in  the  most  natural  relations 
which  they  bear  to  the  subject  that  has  full 
possession  of  the  man,  and  composition  becomes 
easj',  and  even  interesting. 

It  was  a  frequent,  and  a  very  useful  method 
with  him,  to  open  and  explain  his  subject  in  a 
very  brief  manner,  and  then  to  draw  inferen- 
ces from  it ;  which  inferences  formed  the  great 
body  of  the  sermon,  and  were  rather  matters 
of  ADDRESS  to  the  consciences  and  hearts  of  his 
hearers,  than  of  DISCUSSION;  so  that  the  whole 
subject  was  a  kind  of  application.  This  seems 
to  me  to  have  been  his  most  effective  manner 
of  preaching.  Take  an  instance  :  Matt,  xviii. 
20.  I.  EXPLAIN  the  words.  II.  Raise  from  them 
two  or  three  REMARKS:  Contemplate  1.  The 
Glory  and  Godhead  of  our  Master :  2.  The 
honour  which  He  puts  on  His  house  and  the 
assembly  of  His  Saints  :  3.  The  privilege  of 


52  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

being-  one  of  Christ's  servants  whom  He  will 
meet :  4.  The  obligations  lying  on  such  ser- 
vants—  What  manner  of  persons  ought  such  to  be! 
He  was  remarkably  observant  of  character. 
When  I  have  asked  his  opinion  of  a  person,  he 
has  frequently  surprised  me  with  such  a  full 
and  accurate  delineation  of  him,  as  he  could 
have  obtained  only  by  very  patient  and  pene- 
trating observation.  The  reason  of  this  ap- 
peared, when  I  learnt  that  it  was  his  custom  in 
his  sermon  notes,  when  he  wished  to  describe 
a  particular  character,  not  to  put  down  its 
chief  features  as  they  occurred  to  his  mind 
from  the  general  observations  which  he  had 
made  on  men ;  but  he  would  put  down  the 
initial  of  some  person's  name,  with  whom 
he  was  well  acquainted,  and  who  stood  in  his 
mind  as  the  representative  of  that  class  of  char- 
acters. He  had  nothing  to  do  then,  when  he 
came  to  enlarge  on  that  part  of  his  subject,  but 
strongly  to  realize  to  himself  the  person  in 
question,  and  he  would  draw  a  much  more 
vivid  picture  of  a  real  character  than  he  could 
otherwise  do.* 

*  Lavater  somewhere  mentions  an  admirable  prac- 
tice of  his  own,  which  carried  our  friend's  principle 
into  constant  use  in  his  ministry.  He  fixed  on  certain 
persons  in  his, congregation,  whom  he  considered  as 
representatives  of  the  respective  classes  into  which  his 
Jiearers  might  be  properly  divided — amounting,  as  I 
recollect,  to  SEVEJV.  In  composing  his  discourses,  he 
kept  each  of  these  persons  steadily  in  his  eye  •  and  la- 
bored so  to  mould  his  subjects  as  to  meet  the  case  of  ev- 
eryone—by  which  incomparable  rule  he  rendered  him- 
self intelligible  and  interesting  to  all  classes  of  his  flock. 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  53 

Mr.  Cecil  was  not  himself  led  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  God  through  great  terrors  of  conscience: 
his  ministry  did  not,  therefore,  so  much  abound 
in  delineations  of  the  working  and  malignity 
of  sin,  as  in  those  topics  which  grew  out  of  his 
course  of  experience  ;  nor  did  he  enter  fre- 
quently or  largely  into  the  details  of  the  spir- 
itual conflict.  He  was  himself  drawn  to  God, 
and  subdued  by  a  sense  of  divine  mercy  and 
friendship  ;  he  was  led,  therefore,  to  detail 
largely  the  transactions  of  the  believing  mind 
with  God,  in  the  exercise  of  dependance  and 
submission. 

He  was  more  aware  than  most  men  of  the 

DIFFICULTY  OF  BRINGING  DOWN  THE  TRUTH  TO   THE 
COMPREHENSION    OF    THE    MASS    OF    HEARERS. 

A  young  minister  may  leave  College  with 
the  best  theory  in  the  world,  and  he  may  take 
with  him  into  a  country  parish  a  determination 
to  talk  in  the  language  of  simplicity  itself;  but 
the  actual  capacity  to  make  himself  understood 
and  felt  is  so  far  removed  from  his  former  hab- 
its, that  it  is  only  to  be  acquired  by  experience. 
Hear  how  wisely  Mr.  Cecil  wrote  to  a  young 
friend  about  to  take  orders  : — u  I  advised  him, 
since  he  was  so  near  his  entrance  into  the  min- 
istry, to  lay  aside  all  other  studies  for  the  pres- 
ent,but  the  one  1  should  now  recommend  to  him. 
1  would  have  him  select  some  very  poor  and 
uninformed  persons,  and  pay  them  a  visit.  His 
object  should  be  to  explain  to  them,  and  dem- 
onstrate to  them  the  truth  of  the  solar  system. 
He  should  first  of  all  sethimself  to  make  that  sys- 
tem perfectly  intelligible  to  them,  and  then  he 


54  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

should  demonstrate  it  to  their  full  conviction 
against  all  that  the  followers  of  Tycho  Brahe 
or  any  one  else  could  say  against  it.  He  would 
tell  me  it  was  impossihle  :  they  would  not  un- 
derstand a  single  term.  Impossible  to  make 
them  astronomers !  And  shall  it  be  thought 
an  easy  matter  to  make  them  understand  re- 
demption !" 

He  gave  the  following  account  of  his  HABIT 

OF    PREPARATION    FOR    THE    PULPIT  : 

"  I  generally  look  into  the  portions  of  Scrip- 
ture appointed  by  the  church  to  be  read  in  the 
services  of  the  day.  I  watch  too,  for  any  new 
light  which  may  be  thrown  on  passages  in  the 
course  of  reading,  conversation,  or  prayer.  I 
seize  the  occasions  furnished  by  my  own  experi- 
ence— my  state  of  mind — my  family  occurren- 
ces. Subjects  taken  up  in  this  manner  are  al- 
ways likely  to  meet  the  cases  and  wants  of 
some  persons  in  the  congregation.  Sometimes, 
however,  I  have  no  text  prepared  :  and  1  have 
found  this  to  arise  generally  from  sloth:  I  go 
to  work  :  this  is  the  secret :  make  it  a  business : 
something  will  arise  where  least  expected. 

"It  is  important  to  begin  preparation  early. 
If  it  is  driven  off  late,  accidents  may  occur 
which  may  prevent  due  attention  to  the  sub- 
ject. If  the  latter  days  of  the  week  are  occu- 
pied, and  the  mind  driven  into  a  corner,  the 
sermon  will  usually  be  raw  and  undigested. 
Take  time  to  reject  what  ought  to  be  reject- 
ed, and  to  supply  what  ought  to  be  supplied. 

"It  is  a  favorite  method  with  me  to  reduce 
the  text  to  some  point  of  doctrine.  On  that 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  55 

topic  I  enlarge,  and  then  apply  it.  I  like  to 
ask  myself  —  '  What  are  you  doing?  —  What  is 
your  aim  ?' 

"  I  will  not  foretell  my  own  views  by  first 
going  lo  commentators.  I  talk  over  the  sub- 
ject to  myself:  I  write  down  all  that  strikes 
me  :  and  then  I  arrange  what  is  written.  Af- 
ter my  plan  is  settled,  and  my  mind  has  ex- 
hausted its  stores,  then  I  would  turn  to  some 
of  my  great  Doctors  to  see  if  I  am  in  no  error  : 
but  I  find  it  necessary  to  reject  many  good 
things  which  the  Doctors  say  ;  they  will  tell 
to  no  good  effect  in  a  sermon.  In  truth,  to  be 
effective,  we  must  draw  more  from  nature  and 
less  from  the  writings  of  men  :  we  must  study 
the  book  of  Providence,  the  book  of  nature, 
the  heart  of  man.  and  the  book  of  God  :  we 
must  read  the  history  of  the  world  :  we  must 
deal  with  matters  of  fact  before  our  eyes." 

In  respect  to  mechanical  preparation,  Mr. 
Cecil  was  in  the  habit  of  using  eight  quarto  pa- 
ges, on  which  he  put  down  his  main  and  subor- 
dinate divisions,  with  such  hints  as  he  thought 
requisite.  These  notes,  written  in  an  open 
and  legible  manner,  such  as  his  eye  could  catch 
with  ease,  he  put  into  one  of  the  portable 
quarto  Bibles,  of  which  several  editions  were 
printed  in  the  xviith  century,  in  a  good  type, 
but,  in  consequence  of  the  closeness  and  excel* 
lence  of  the  paper,  such  as  bind  up  in  a  very 
compact  size.  Of  these  editions  there  are  some* 


*  I  have  compared  four  of  these  Bibles,  vi 
London,  1648—  Haye's,  Camb.  1670,  and  also  that  of 
1677—  and  Buck's,  Camb.  without  date. 


50  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

which  are  printed  page  for  page  with  anoth- 
er: and  one  of  these  editions  Mr.  Cecil  was 
in  the  constant  habit  of  using,  both  in  public 
and  in  private,  from  the  mechanical  assistance 
afforded  to  him  in  turning  to  passages  from 
the  recollection  of  the  part  of  the  page  in 
which  they  occurred. 

It  will  he  interesting  to  hear  Mr.  Cecil's  own 

ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  MANNER  OF  COMMENCING  HIS  MIN- 
ISTRY ;  as  it  notices  mistakes  from  which  he 
was  not  only  early  but  most  effectually  deliv- 
ered, and  his  remarks  on  them  may  afford  a 
serious  caution  to  others. 

u  1  set  out,"  he  said,  "  with  levity  in  the  pul- 
pit. It  was  above  two  years  before  I  could  get 
the  victory  over  it,  though  I  strove  under 
sharp  piercings  of  conscience.  My  plan  was 
wrong.  1  had  bad  counsellors.  I  thought 
preaching"  was  only  entering  the  pulpit,  and 
letting  off  a  sermon.  I  really  imagined  this 
was  trusting  to  God,  and  doing  the  thing  clev- 
erly. I  talked  with  a  wise  and  pious  man  on 
the  subject.  *  There  is  nothing,'  said  he,  ;  like 
appealing  to  facts.'  We  sat  down  and  named 
names.  We  found  men  in  my  habit  disreputa- 
ble. This  first  set  my  mind  right.  I  saw  such 
a  man  might  sometimes  succeed  :  but  I  saw,  at 
the  same  time,  that  whoever  would  succeed  in 
his  general  interpretations  of  Scripture,  and 
would  have  his  ministry  that  of  a  workman  that 
needeth  not  to  be  ashamed — must  be  a  laborious 
man.  What  can  be  produced  by  men  who  re- 
fuse this  labor? — a  few  raw  notions,  harmless 
perhaps  in  themselves,  but  false  as  stated  by 
them.  What  then  should  a  young  minister  do  ? 


CHARACTER.  OF  MR.  CECIL.  57 

His  office  says,  ;  Go  to  your  books.  Go  to 
retirement.  Go  to  prayer.' — c  No !'  says  the 
enthusiast,  'Go  to  preach.  Go  and  be  a  wit- 
ness !' — A  witness ! — of  what  ? — Fie  don't  know  !" 

Thus  qualified  by  nature,  education,  and 
grace — enriched  by  his  various  manly  acquisi- 
tions— and  matured  by  experience,  he  appear- 
ed in  the  pulpit  unquestionably  as  one  of  the 
first  preachers — perhaps  the  very  first  preach- 
er— of  his  time. 

He  was  SINCERELY  ATTACHED  TO  THE  CHURCH 
OF  ENGLAND,  both  by  principle  and  feeling — to 
her  ORDER  and  DECORUM.  He  entered  into  the 
spirit  of  those  obligations,  which  lay  on  him 
as  a  clergyman  ;  and,  looking  at  general  conse- 
quences, would  never  break  through  the  order 
and  discipline  of  the  church,  to  obtain  any  par- 
tial, local,  and  temporary  ends. 

In  the  more  PRIVATE  exercise  of  his  pastoral 
office,  as  a  counsellor  and  friend,  he  manifest- 
ed great  FAITHFULNESS,  TENDERNESS,  and  WISDOM. 

In  proof  of  this  1  might  appeal  to  what  is 
said  in  the  "Remains,"  on  the  subject  of  u  vis- 
iting deathbeds."  I  shall  here  subjoin  a  few 
more  illustrations  of  this  part  of  his  character. 

An  interview  was  contrived  between  him 
and  a  noble  lady,  by  some  of  her  relations. 
She  began  to  listen  to  the  affairs  of  religion. 
Her  life  had  been  gay  and  trifling.  She  knew 
that  he  understood  her  situation ;  and  she  began 
to  introduce  her  case  by  saying  that  she  sup- 
posed he  thought  her  a  very  contemptible  and 
wicked  creature.  "No,  Madam,  1  do  not  look 
at  you  in  that  view.  I  consider  that  you  have 

, 


58  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

been  a  wanderer;  pursuing  happiness  in  a 
mistaken  road — an  immortal /being  fluttering 
through  the  present  short  but  important  scene, 
without  one  serious  concern  for  what  is  to  come 
after  it  is  passed  by.  And,  while  others  know 
what  is  to  happen  to  them,  and  wait  for  it,  you 
are  totally  ignorant  of  the  subject." — "  But  Sir, 
is  k  possible  to  arrive  at  any  certainty  with  re- 
spect to  a  future  condition  ?" — u  Why  what  lit- 
tle trifling  scenes  would  occupy  your  ladyship 
and  myself,  if  we  were  confined  to  this  small 
spot  of  a  carpet  that  is  under  our  feet!  The 
world  is  a  little,  mean,  despicable  scene  in  it- 
self. But  we.  must  leave  it;  and  can  you  sup- 
pose that  we  are  left  to  step  into  another  state, 
as  into  a  dark  abyss — not  knowing  what  awaits 
us  there  ?  No — the  next  step  I  take  from  the 
world  is  not  into  a  void  that  no  one  has  explor- 
ed— a  fathomless  abyss — a  chaos  of  clouds  and 
darkness — but  I  know  what  it  is — I  am  assured 
of  it."  He  said  to  me  in  reporting  this  conver- 
sation, u  I  rested  on  this,  and  left  it  to  work 
on  her  mind.  I  thought  it  belter  to  defer  the 
subject  of  this  assurance  to  try  her,  and  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  she  feels  anxious  for  our 
next  occasion  of  meeting,  that  she  may  hear 
how  we  can  make  out  the  grounds  of  our  as- 
surance." This  is  one  among  many  instances 
of  the  wise  methods  in  which  he  accommodat- 
ed his  instructions  to  the  character. 

u  Many  of  my  people,"  he  said,  "  and  espe- 
cially females,  talk  thus  to  me — 'I  am  under 
continual  distress  of  mind.  I  can  lay  hold  of 
no  permanent  ground  of  peace.  If  1  seem  to 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  59 

get  a  little,  it  is  soon  gone  again.  1  am  out  at 
sea,  without  compass  or  anchor.  My  heart 
sinks.  My  spirit  faints.  My  knees  tremble. 
All  is  dark  above,  and  all  is  horror  beneath.' 
— '  And  pray  what  is  your  mode  of  life  ?' — '  I 
sit  by  myself.' — fc  In  this  small  room,  I  suppose, 
and  over  your  fire?1 — 'A  considerable  part  of 
my  time.' — '  And  what  time  do  you  go  to 
bed  ?' — '  I  cannot  retire  till  two  or  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning.' — '  And  you  lie  late, 
I  suppose,  in  the  morning?' — 'Frequently.' 
— 'And  pray  what  else  can  you  expect  from  this 
mode  of  life,  than  a  relaxed  and  unstrung 
system — and,  of  course,  a  mind  enfeebled, 
anxious,  and  disordered?  I  understand  your 
case.  God  seems  to  have  qualified  me  to 
understand  it,  by  especial  dispensations.  My 
natural  diposition  is  gay,  volatile,  spirited. 
My  nature  would  never  sink.  But  I  have  some- 
times felt  my  spirit  absorbed  in  horrible  appre- 
hensions, without  any  assignable  natural  cause* 
Perhaps  it  was  necessary  I  should  be  suffered 
to  feel  this,  that  I  might  feel  for  others ;  for, 
certainly,  no  man  can  have  any  adequate  sym- 
pathy with  others,  who  has  never  thus  suffer- 
ed himseif.  1  can  feel  for  you  therefore,  while 
I  tell  you  that  I  think  the  affair  with  you  is 
chiefly  physical.  I  myself  have  brought  on  the 
same  feelings  by  the  same  means.  I  have  sat 
in  my  study  till  1  have  persuaded  myself  that 
the  ceiling  was  too  low  to  suffer  me  to  rise  and 
stand  upright ;  and  air  and  exercise  alone,  could 
remove  the  impression  from  my  mind  !' 

His  taking  the  charge  of  ST.  JoHN'fs  CHAPEL 


J«JQ    lei 


60  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CKCIL. 

is  the  most  important  event  of  his  life,  as  it  ap- 
pears to  have  been  the  sphere  for  which  he 
was  peculiarly  raised  up  and  prepared  by  Pro- 
vidence. 

The  circumstances  attending1  his  establish- 
ment of  a?  serious  and  devout  congregation  in 
this  place,  mark  the  strength  and  simplicity  of 
his  mind ;  while  they  may  show  the  necessi- 
ty under  which  such  men  will  sometimes  be 
brought,  of  acting  for  themselves,  with  per- 
fect independence  of  the  whole  body  of  their 
brethren. 

These  circumstances  he  related  to  me  as  fol- 
lows : — "  When  1  married,  1  lived  at  a  small 
house  at  Islington,  situated  in  the  midst  of  a 
garden,  for  which  1  paid  14/.  a  year.  My  an- 
nual income  was  then  only  80/.  and,  with  this, 
I  had  to  support  myself,  my  wife,  and  a  servant. 
I  was  then,  indeed,  minister  of  St.  John's,  but 
I  received  nothing  from  the  place  for  several 
of  the  earlier  years.  When  I  was  sent  thither, 
I  considered  that  I  was  sent  to  the  people  of 
that  place  and  neighborhood.  I  thought  it  my 
duty  therefore,  to  adopt  a  system  and  a  style  of 
preaching  which  should  have  a  tendency  to 
meet  their  case.  All  which  they  had  heard 
before,  was  dry,  frigid,  and  lifeless.  A  high, 
haughty,  stalking  spirit  characterised  the  place. 
I  was  thrown  among  men  of  the  world,  men  of 
business,  men  of  reading  and  men  of  thought. 
1  began,  therefore,  with  principles.  I  preach- 
ed on  the  divine  authority  of  the  sacred  scrip- 
tures. I  dissected  Saurin's  Sermons.  1  took 
the  sinews  and  substance  of  some  of  our  most 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  61 

masterly  writers.  I  preached  on  such  texts  as 
— If  ye  believe  not  Moses  and  the  Prophets,  nei- 
ther will  ye  believe  though  one  rose  from  ihe  dead. 
I  set  myself  to  explain  terms  and  phrases.  My 
chief  object  was  under-ground  work.  But 
what  was  the  consequence  of  this?  An  out- 
cry was  raised  against  me  throughout  the  re- 
ligious world.  It  was  said,  that,  at  other  pla- 
ces, I  continued  to  preach  the  truth ;  but  that, 
at  St.  John's,  I  was  sacrificing  it  to  my  hearers. 
Even  my  brethren,  instead  of  entering  into  my 
reasons  and  plan,  lay  on  their  oars.  My  pro- 
tectress turned  her  back  on  me.  I  hesitated, 
at  first,  to  enter  on  so  great  a  risk ;  but,  with 
grandeur  of  spirit,  she  told  me  she  would  put 
her  fortune  on  the  issue  :  if  any  benefit  resulted 
from  it,  it  should  be  mine,  and  she  would  bear 
me  harmless  of  all  loss.  She  heard  me  a  few 
times,  and  then  wholly  withdrew  herself, 
and  even  took  away  her  servants.  Some  of 
them  would  now  and  then  steal  in;  but  as  they 
reported  that  they  got '  no  food,'  the  report  did 
but  strengthen  the  prejudices  of  their  mistress. 
She  could  not  enter  into  my  motives.  I  was 
obliged  to  regard  her  conduct  as  Huss  did  that 
of  the  man  who  was  heaping  the  faggots  round 
him,  O  sancta  simplicitas  i  She  could  not  calcu- 
late consequences,  and  was  unmoved  even  when 
I  placed  my  conduct  in  its  strongest  light — *  Can 
you  attribute'any  but  the  purest  motives  to  me  ? 
Ought  not  the  very  circumstances  to  which  I 
voluntarily  subject  myself  by  adhering  to  the 
plan^you  condemn,  to  gain  me  some  credit  for 
my  intentions  ?  Had  1  preached  here,  in  the 
6* 


(>2  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

manner  I  preached  elsewhere,  you  know  that 
the  place  would  have  been  crowded  by  the  re* 
ligious  world.  I  should  then  have  obtained  from 
it  an  income  of  200/.  or  300/.  a  year,  whereas  I 
now  sit  down  with  little  or  no  advantage  from 
it,  though  I  have  a  family  rising  up  about  me. 
God  sent  me  hither  to  preach  to  this  people, 
and  to  raise  a  congregation  in  this  place ;  and 
I  am  proceeding  in  that  system  and  way,  which 
seems  to  me  best  adanted  under  God  to  meet 
the  states  of  this  people  ;  and  while  I  am  doing 
this,  i  bring  on  myself  temporal  injury.  I  can 
have  no  possible  motive  to  sacrifice  the  truth 
to  a  few  blind  pharisees,  who  will  never  while 
1  live  become  my  friends.5 

u  I  laboured  under  this  desertion  of  my 
friends  for  a  long  time  :  it  was  about  seven 
years,  before  affairs  began  to  wear  such  an  as- 
pect, that  my  protectress  and  others  allowed 
that  matters  had  certainly  turned  out  as  they 
could  not  have  foreseen.  Several  witnesses 
rose  up  of  undoubted  and  authentic  character, 
to  testify  the  power  of  the  grace  of  God.  One 
circumstance  will  place  the  prejudice  which 
existed  against  me  in  a  strong  light.  A  conver- 
ted Jewess,  who  had  been  driven  from  her  fa- 
ther*^ house  on  account  of  her  sentiments,  and 
was  a  woman  of  great  simplicity  and  devotion, 
refused  to  accompany  a  friend  to  St.  John's, 
because,  as  she  said,  she  could  not  worship 
there  spiritually,  and  rather  chose  to  spend  the 
afternoon  among  her  friend's  books  ;  in  which 
employment,  I  doubt  not,  she  worshipped  God 
in  the  spirit,  and  was  accepted  of  him.  For  my 
own  satisfaction,  I  wrote  down  at  large  the  rea- 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  63 

sons  on  which  I  had  formed  my  conduct,  for  I  was 
almost  driven  into  my  own  breast  for  support 
and  justification.  One  friend,  indeed,  stood  by 
me.  He  saw  my  plan  and  entered  fully  into 
it ;  and  said  such  strong*  things  on  the  subject 
as  greatly  confirmed  my  own  mind.  '  The 
Church  of  Christ,'  said  he, ;  must  sometimes 
be  sacrificed  for  Christ.'  A  certain  brother 
preached  a  charity  sermon ;  and  in  such  a  style, 
that  he  seemed  to  say  to  me,  'Were  I  here, 
you  should  see  how  I  would  do  the  thing.' 
What  good  he  did,  I  know  not ;  but  some  of 
the  evil  I  know,  as  several  persons  forsook  the 
chapel,  and  assigned  his  sermon  as  the  reason ; 
and  others  expressed  themselves  alarmed  at 
the  idea  of  Methodism  having  crept  into  the 
place.  It  was  ill-judged  and  unkind.  He 
should  have  entered  into  my  design,  or  have 
been  silent." 

About  the  middle  of  July,  1800,  Mr.  Cecil 
entered  on  the  Livings  of  BISLRY  and  CHOBHAM 
in  Surry.  A  few  weeks  after  this  I  visited  him 
with  our  dear  and  mutual  friend  Dr.  Fearon. 

Here  I  saw  him  in  a  quite  different  situation 
from  any  in  which  I  had  seen  him  before,  and 
was  not  a  little  curious  to  remark  the  man- 
ner in  which  he  would  treat  a  set  of  plain  and 
homely  villagers.  Though  he  was  repeated- 
ly in  great  anguish  during  the  day  which  we 
passed  with  him,  yet  his  mind,  in  the  intervals, 
was  so  vigorous  and  luminous  that  I  have  scarce- 
ly ever  gathered  so  much  from  him  in  an  equal 
time. 

On  this  occasion,  among  other  things  which 


64  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

are  recorded  in  his  u  Remains,"  he  stated  to 
us  his  views  and  feelings  respecting  his  new 
charge.  "  Bisley  is  a  rectory.  It  is  complete- 
ly out  of  the  world.  The  farmers  in  these 
parts  are  mostly  occupiers  of  their  own  land. 
They  crowded  round  me  when  I  first  came, 
and  were  eager  to  make  bargains  with  me  for 
the  tythe.  I  told  them  I  was  ignorant  of  such 
matters,  but  that  I  would  propose  a  measure 
which  none  of  them  could  object  to.  The  far- 
mers of  Bisley  should  nominate  three  farmers 
of  Chobham  parish  ;  and  whatever  those  three 
Chobham  farmers  should  appoint  me  to  receive, 
that  they  should  pay.  This  was  putting  myself 
into  their  power  indeed,  but  the  one  grand 
point  with  me  was  to  conciliate  their  minds, 
and  pave  the  way  for  the  gospel  in  these  par- 
ishes. And  so  far  it  answered  my  purpose.  I 
had  desired  the  three  farmers  to  throw  the 
weight,  in  dubious  cases,  into  the  farmer's  scale. 
After  we  had  settled  the  business,  one  of  the 
three,  to  convince  the  Bisley  farmers  that  they 
had  acted  in  the  very  spirit  of  my  directions, 
proposed  to  find  a  person  who  would  immedi- 
ately give  them  50/.  a  year  for  their  bargain 
with  me.  This  has  given  them  an  idea  that 
we  act  upon  high  and  holy  motives." 

What  a  noble  trait  is  this  of  his  upright  and 
disinterested  mind  ?  One  might  almost  with 
confidence  predict  that  such  an  introduction 
into  his  parishes  was  a  presage  of  great  use- 
fulness. A  minister  has  no  right  to  wanton 
away  the  support  of  his  family  ;  but,  having 
secured  that,  whatever  sacrifices  he  may  make 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  65 

with  snch  holy  motives  as  these,  will  be  abun- 
dantly repaid ;  probably  in  the  success  of  his 
ministry,  certainly  in  his  master's  approbation 
and  the  peace  of  his  own  bosorn.  Those  sac- 
rifices of  what  may  be  strictly  his  due,  which 
a  narrow  and  worldly  mnn  may  refuse  to  make, 
though  he  entail  discord  and  feuds  on  his  par- 
ish, will  be  trifles  to  the  mind  of  a  true  Chris- 
tian minister, 

u  I  hardly  think  it  likely  that  a  man  could 
have  been  received  in  a  more  friendly  man- 
ner than  I  have  been.  About  500  people  at- 
tend at  Chobham,  and  300  at  Bisiey.  I  find  I 
can  do  any  thing  with  them  while  1  arn  serious. 
A  Baptist  preacher  had  been  somewhere  in 
the  neighborhood  before  I  came.  He  seems 
to  have  been  wild  and  eccentric,  and  to  have 
planted  a  prejudice  in  consequence  of  this  in 
the  people's  minds,  who  appear  to  have  had 
no  other  notion  of  Methodism  than  that  it  was 
eccentricity. 

"While  [  am  grave  and  serious  they  will 
allow  me  to  say  or  do  any  thing.  For  instance  ; 
a  few  Sundays  since  it  rained  so  prodigiously 
hard  when  I  had  finished  my  sermon  at  Bjsley, 
that  I  saw  it  was  impracticable  for  any  body 
to  leave  the  church.  I  then  told  the  people, 
that  as  it  was  likely  to  continue  for  some  time, 
we  had  better  employ  ourselves  as  vyell  as  we 
could,  and  so  I  would  take  up  the  subject  again. 
I  did  so;  and  they  listened  to  me  readily  for 
another  half-hour,  though  I  had  preached  to 
them  three  quarters  of  an  hour  before  I  had 
concluded.  All  this  they  bear,  and  think  it 


66  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

nothing  strange  ;  but  one  wild  brother  with 
one  eccentric  sermon  would  do  me  more  mis- 
chief than  I  should  be  able  in  many  months  to 
cure." 

A  very  strong  instance  of  personal  attach- 
ment to  him  occurred  soon  after  he  took  Chob- 
ham.  A  stranger  was  observed  to  attend  church 
every  Sunday,  and  to  leave  the  village  imme- 
diately after  service  was  over.  Every  new 
face  there  was  a  phenomenon,  and  of  course 
the  appearance  of  this  man  led  to  inquiry. 
He  was  found  to  be  one  of  his  hearers  at  St. 
John's — a  poor,  working-man,  whom  the  ad- 
vantages received  under  his  ministry  had  so 
knit  to  his  pastor,  that  he  found  himself  repaid 
for  a  weekly  journey  of  fifty  miles.  Mr.  C. 
remonstrated  with  him  on  the  inexpediency 
and  impropriety  of  thus  spending  his  Sabbath, 
when  the  pure  word  of  God  might  be  heard 
so  much  nearer  home. 

But  we  must  approach  the  closing  scene  of 
this  great  man's  life  and  labors. 

No  touches  need  to  be  added  to  the  affect- 
ing picture  which  Mrs.  Cecil  has  drawn  of  his 
gradual  descent  to  the  grave.  I  will  only  sub- 
join here  some  remarks  on  his  VIEWS  and  FEEL- 
INGS with  respect  to  that  Gospel  of  which  he 
had  been  so  long  an  eminent  and  successful 
minister. 

His  VIEWS  of  Christianity  were  modified,  as 
has  been  seen  by  his  constitution  and  the  cir- 
cumstances of  his  life.  His  dispensation  was 
to  meet  a  particular  class  of  hearers.  He  was 
fitted,  beyond  most  men,  to  assert  the  reality, 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  67 

dignity,  and  glory  of  religion — as  contrasted 
with  the  vanity,  meanness,  and  glare  of  the 
world.  This  subject  he  treated  like  a  master. 
Men  of  the  world  felt  that  they  were  in  the 
presence  of  their  superior — of  one  who  unmask- 
ed their  real  misery  to  themselves,  and  pursu- 
ed them  through  all  the  false  refuges  of  vain 
and  carnal  minds. 

While  this  was  the  principal  character  of 
Mr.  Cecil's  ministry  for  years,  at  that  place 
for  which  he  seems  to  have  been  specially 
prepared;  yet  he  was  elsewhere,  with  equal 
wisdom,  leading  experienced  Christians  for- 
ward in  their  way  to  heaven  :  and,  latterly, 
the  habit  of  his  own  mind  and  the  whole  sys- 
tem of  his  ministry  were  manifestly  ripening 
in  those  views  which  are  peculiar  to  the  Gos- 
pel. 

No  man  had  a  more  just  view  of  his  own 
ministry  than  he  had  ;  nor  could  any  one  more 
highly  value  the  excellence  which  he  saw  in 
others,  though  it  was  of  a  different  class  from 
his  own.  "I  have  been  lately  selecting,"  he 
said  to  me,  "some  of  C — 's  letters  for  publica- 
tion. With  the  utmost  difficulty,  I  have  given 
some  little  variety.  He  begins  with  Jesus 
Christ,  carries  him  through,  and  closes  with 
him.  If  a  broken  leg  or  arm  turns  him  aside, 
he  seems  impatient  to  dismiss  it  as  an  intrusive 
subject,  and  to  get  back  again  to  his  topic.  I 
feel  as  I  read  his  letters — fc  Why,  you  said  this 
in  the  last  sentence  !  What,  over  and  over 
again  !  AVhat  nothing  else  !  No  variety  of 
view  !  No  illustration  !'  And  yet,  I  confess, 


68  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

that,  when  I  have  walked  out  and  my  mind 
has  been  a  good  deal  exercised  on  his  letters, 
I  have  caught  a  sympathy — '  It  is  one  thing, 
without  variety  or  relief;  but  this  one  thing 
is  a  TALISMAN  !' — 1  have  raised  my  head — I  have 
trod  firmly — my  heart  has  expanded — I  have 
felt  wings  !  Men  must  not  be  viewed  indis- 
criminately. To  a  certain  degree  I  produce 
effect  in  my  way,  and  with  my  views.  The 
utter  ruin  and  bankruptcy  of  man  is  so  wrought 
into  my  experience,  that  I  handle  this  subject 
naturally.  Other  men  may  use  God's  more  di- 
rect means  as  naturally  as  I  can  use  his  more  indi- 
rect and  collateral  ones.  Every  man,  however, 
must  rather  follow  than  lead  his  experience  ; 
though,  to  a  certain  degree,  if  he  finds  his  hahits 
diverting  him  from  Jesus  Christ  as  the  grand, 
prominent,  only  feature,  he  must  force  himself 
to  choose  such  topics  as  shall  lead  his  mind  to 
him.  I  am  obliged  to  subject  myself  to  this 
discipline.  I  frequently  choose  subjects  and 
enter  into  my  plan,  before  I  discover  that  the 
SAVIOUR  occupies  a  part  too  subordinate:  I  throw 
them  away,  and  take  up  others  which  point 
more  directly  and  naturally  to  Him." 

In  his  last  illness,  he  spoke,  with  great  feel- 
ing, on  the  same  subject:  u  That  Christianity 
may  be  very  sincere,  which  is  not  sublime. 
Let  a  man  read  Maclaurin's  sermon  on  the 
Cross  of  Christ,  and  enter  into  the  subject  with 
taste  and  relish,  what  beggary  is  the  world  to 
him  !  The  subject  is  so  high  and  so  glorious, 
that  a  man  must  go  out  of  himself,  as  it  were, 
to  apprehend  it.  The  apostle  had  such  a  view 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  69 

when  he  said  /  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the 
excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jtsus  my 
Lord.  1  remember  the  time,  even  after  1  be- 
.  came  really  serious  in  religion,  when  I  could 
not  understand  what  St.  Paul  meant — not  by 
setting  forth  the  glory  of  Christ,  but  by  talking 
of  it  in  such  hyperbolical  terms,  and  always 
dwelling  on  the  subject:  whatever  topic  he 
began  on,  1  saw  that  he  could  not  but  glide 
into  the  same  subject.  But  I  NOW  understand 
why  he  did  so,  and  wonder  no  more  ;  for  there 
is  no  other  subject,  comparatively,  ivorthy  our 
thoughts,  and  therefore  it  is  that  advanced 
Christians  dwell  on  little  else.  I  am  fully  per- 
suaded, that  the  whole  world  becomes  vain, 
and  empty  to  a  man,  in  proportion  as  he  enters 
into  living  views  of  Jesus  Christ." 

His  FEELINGS  on  religion,  as  they  respected 
his  submission  to  the  divine  will,  were  admirably 
expressed  by  himself: — "  We  are  servants,  and 
we  must  not  choose  our  station.  I  am  now  cal- 
led to  go  down  very  low,  but  I  must  not  resist. 
God  is  saying  to  me,  c  You  have  not  been  doing 
my  work  in  my  way  :  you  have  been  too  hast}'. 
Now  sit  down,  and  be  content  to  be  a  quiet 
idler  :  and  wait  till  I  give  you  leave  again  to 
go  on  in  your  labors.'  " 

In  respect  to  his  PERSONAL  COMFORT,  he  had 
said — u  I  have  attained  satisfaction  as  to  my 
state,  by  a  consciousness  of  change  in  my  own 
breast,  mixed  with  a  consciousness  of  integrity. 

Two  evidences  are  satisfactory  to  me: — 

1.  A  consciousness  of  approving  God's  plan 
of  government  in  the  Gospel. 
7 


70  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

2.  A  consciousness,  that,  in  trouble,  f  run  to 
God,as  a  child." 

These  evidences  Mr.  C.  illustrated  even  in 
his  diseased  moments  before  his  death.  On 
that  afflicting  dispensation  1  shall  make  no  re- 
marks of  my  own,  as  I  think  nothing  can  be 
added  to  what  my  friend,  his  successor,  has  so 
welLsaid  in  the  second  of  his  funeral  sermons, 
and  which  is  here  subjoined. 

"  During  the  whole  period  of  his  last  illness, 
a  space  of  nearly  three  years,  the  state  of  his 
mind  fluctuated  with  his  malady.  Every  one, 
who  has  had  opportunities  of  observing  the 
operation  of  palsy,  knows,  that,  without  de- 
stroying, or,  properly  speaking,  perverting, 
the  reasoning  powers,  it  agitates  and  ener- 
vates them.  Every  object  is  presented  through 
a  discolored  medium.  False  premises  are  as- 
sumed; and  the  mind  is  sometimes  more  than 
usally  expert  in  drawing  inferences  according- 
ly. In  a  word,  the  whole  system  is  deranged 
and  shattered.  An  excessive  care  and  irrita- 
tion and  despondency  are  produced  u/ider  the 
impression  of  which  the  sufferer  acts  every  mo- 
ment, without  being  at  all  aware  of  the  cause. 
His  morbid  anxiety  is,  besides,  fixed  on  some 
inconsiderable  or  ideal  matter,  which  he  mag- 
nifies and  distorts  ;  while  he  remains  incapable 
of  attending  to  concerns  of  superior  moment, 
and  any  attempts  to  rectify  his  misapprehen- 
sions, quicken  the  irritation,  and  increase  the 
effects  of  the  disorder. 

"Under  this  peculiar  visitation  it  pleased 
God  that  our  late  venerable  father  should  labor. 


(CHARACTER  OF  MR.   CECIL.  71 

The  energy,  and  decision,  and  grandeur  of  his 
natural  powers,  therefore,  gradually  gave  way, 
and  a  morbid  feebleness  succeeded.  Yet  even 
in  this  afflicting  state,  with  his  body  on  one  side 
almost  lifeless,  his  organs  of  speech  impaired, 
and  his  judgment  weakened,  the  spiritual  dis- 
positions of  his  heart  displayed  themselves  in 
a  very  remarkable  manner.  He  appeared 
great  in  the  ruins  of  nature  ;  and  his  eminently 
religious  character  manifested  itself,  to  the  hon- 
or of  divine  grace,  in  a  manner  which  surpris- 
ed all  who  were  acquainted  with  the  ordinary 
effects  of  paralytic  complaints.  The  actings 
of  hope  were,  of  course,  impeded ;  but  the  hab- 
it of  grace  which  had  been  forming  in  his  mind 
for  thirty  or  forty  years  shone  through  the 
cloud.  At  such  a  period  there  was  no  room 
for  fresh  acquisitions.  The  real  character  of 
the  man  could  only  appear,  when  disease  al- 
lowed it  to  appear  at  all,  according  to  the  grand 
leading  habits  of  his  life.  If  his  habits  had 
been  ambitious,  or  sensual,  or  covetous,  or 
worldly,  these  tendencies,  if  any,  would  have 
displayed  themselves  :  but  as  his  soul  had  been 
long  established  in  grace,  and  spiritual  religion 
had  been  incorporated  with  all  his  trains  of 
sentiment  and  affection,  and  had  become  like 
a  second  nature,  the  holy  dispositions  of  his 
heart  acted  with  remarkable  constancy  under 
all  the  variations  of  his  illness  :  so  that  one  of 
his  oldest  friends  observed  to  me,  that  if  he 
had  to  choose  the  portion  of  his  life,  since  he 
first  knew  him,  in  which  the  evidences  of  a 
state  of  salvation  were  most  decisive,  he  should, 


72  CHARACTER  OF  MR.   CECIL. 

without  a  moment's  hesitation,  select  the  pe- 
riod of  his  last  distressing  malady. 

u  Throughout  his  illness,  his  whole  mind,  in- 
stead of  being  fixed  on  some  mean  and  insignif- 
icant concern,  was  riveted  on  spiritual  objects. 
Every  other  topic  was  so  uninteresting  to  him, 
and  even  burdensome,  that  he  could  with  re- 
luctance allow  it  to  be  introduced..  The  value 
of  his  soul,  the  emptiness  of  the  world,  the  near- 
ne-s -and  solemnity  of  death,  were  ever  on  his 
lips  He  spent  his  whole  time  in  reading  the 
Scripture,  and  one  or  two  old  divines,  particu- 
larly Archbishop  Leighton.  All  he  said  and  did 
was  as  a  man  on  the  brink  of  an  eternal  state. 

"His  humility,  also,  evidently  ripened  as  he 
approached  his  end.  He  was  willing  to  receive 
advice  from  every  quarter.  He  listened  with 
anxiety  to  any  hint  that  was  offered  him.  His 
view  of  his  own  misery  and  helplessness  as  a 
sinner,  and  of  the  necessity  of  being  entirely 
indebted  to  divme  grace,  and  being  saved  as 
the  greatest  monument  of  its  efficacy,  was  con- 
tinually on  the  increase. 

"fiis  simplicity  and  fervor  in  speaking  of 
the  Savior,  were  also  very  remarkable.  As 
he  drew  nearer  to  death,  his  one  topic  was — 
Jesus  Christ.  All  his  anxiety  and  care  were 
centred  in  this  grand  point.  His  apprehensions 
of  the  work  and  glory  of  Christ,  of  the  extent 
and  suitableness  of  his  salvation,  and  of  the  un- 
speakabje  importance  of  being  spiritually  uni- 
ted to  him,  were  more  distinct  and  simple,  if 
possible,  than  at  any  period  of  his  life.  He  spake 
of  him  to  his  family,  with  the  feeling,  and  in- 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL.  73 

terest,  and  seriousness  of  the  aged  and  dying 
believer. 

"  His  faith,  also,  never  failed.  I  have  heard 
him,  with  faltering  and  feeble  lips,  speak  of  the 
great  foundations  of  Christianity  with  the  ful- 
lest confidence.  He  said,  he  never  saw  so 
clearly  the  truth  of  the  doctrines  which  he  had 
been  preaching,  as  since  his  illness*  His  view 
of  the  certainty  and  excellency  of  God's  prom- 
ises in  Christ  was  unshaken. 

u  The  interest,  likewise,  which  he  took  in 
the  success  of  the  Gospel,  was  prominent,  when 
his  disease  at  all  remitted.  His  own  people 
lay  near  his  heart;  and,  when  a  providence 
had  occurred  which  he  hoped  would  promote' 
their  benefit,  he  expressed  himself  with  old  Sim- 
eon, c  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart 
in  peace.' 

u  The  principal  effect  of  his  distemper  was 
in  throwing  a  cloud  over  his  comfort  ;  yet,  in 
producing  this,  the  spiritual  tendency  of  his 
mind  appeared.  His  diseased  depression  ope- 
rated indeed,  but  it  was  in  leading  him  to  set 
a  high  standard  of  holiness,  to  bring  together 
elevated  marks  of  regeneration,  and  to  require 
decisive  evidences  of  a  spirit  of  faith  and  adop- 
tion. The  acuteness  of  his  judgment  then  ar- 
gued so  strongly  from  these  false  premises, 
that  he  necessarily  excluded  himself  almost  en- 
tirely from  the  consolation  of  hope.  If  I  may 
be  allowed  a  theological  term — the  objective 
acts  of  faith;  those  that  related  to  the  grand 
objects  proposed  in  the  Scriptures  on  the  tes- 
timony of  God,  such  as  the  work  of  redemption, 
.7* 


74  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

the  person  of  Christ,  and  the  virtue  of  his  blood, 
remained  the  same  ;  nay,  were  ripened  and 
strengthened  as  his  dissolution  approached; 
but  the  subjective  acts  of  faith  ;  those  which 
respected  his  own  interest  in  these  blessings^  and 
which  gave  life  to  the  exercises  of  hope  ;  rose 
and  sunk  with  his  disease.  He  was  precisely 
like  a  man  oppressed  by  a  heavy  weight:  as 
the  load  was  lightened,  he  began  to  move  and 
exert  himself  in  his  natural  manner:  when  the 
burden  was  increased,  he  sunk  down  again  un- 
der the  oppression. 

u  About  a  year  before  his  death,  when  his 
powers  of  mind  had  for  a  long  time  been  debil- 
itated,  but  still  retained  some  remnants  of  their 
former  vigor,  his  religious  feelings  were  at 
times  truly  desirable.  His  intellectual  powers 
were  indeed  too  far  weakened  for  joy;  but 
there  was  a  resignation,  a  tranquillity,  a  ripeness 
of  grace,  a  calm  and  holy  repose  on  the  bosom 
of  the  Saviour,  that  quite  alarmed,  if  I  may  so 
speak,  his  anxious  family,  under  the  impression 
that  there  appeared  nothing  left  for  grace  to 
do,  and  that  he  would  soon  be  removed  from 
them,  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  its  season. 
Even  when  his  disease  had  made  still  further 
progress,  as  often  as  the  slightest  alleviation 
was  afforded  him,  his  judgment  became  more 
distinct,  his  morbid  depression  lessened,  and  he 
was  moderately  composed.  It  was  only  a  few 
weeks  before  his  dissolution  that  such  an  in- 
terval was  vouchsafed  to  him.  He  then  spake 
with  great  feeling  from  the  Scriptures,  in  fami- 
ly worship,  for  about  half  an  hour  j  and  dwelt  on 


CHARACTER  OF  Mil.  CECIL.  75 

the  love,  and  grace,  and  power  of  Christ  with 
particular  composure  of  mind.  1  had  the  happi- 
ness of  visiting  him  at  this  season.  He  was  so 
much  relieved  from  his  disease,  as  to  enter  with 
me  on  genera!  topics  relating  to  religion,  and  to 
give  me  some  excellent  directions  as  to  my  con- 
duct as  a  minister.  In  reply  to  various  ques- 
tions which  i  put  to  him,  he  spake  to  me  to  the 
following  purport;  kl  know  rn}'self  to  be  a 
wretched,  worthless  sinner,'  (the  seriousness 
and  feeling  with  which  he  spake  I  shall  never 
forget,)  c  having  nothing  in  myself  but  poverty 
and  sin.  1  know  Jesus  Christ  to  be  a  glorious 
and  almighty  Saviour.  I  see  the  full  efficacy 
of  his  atonement  and  grace ;  and  I  cast  myself 
entirely  on  him,  and  wait  at  his  footstool.  I 
am  aware  that  my  diseased  and  broken  mind 
makes  me  incapable  of  receiving  consolation ; 
but  1  submit  myself  wholly  to  the  merciful  and 
wise  dispensations  of  God.' 

"One  or  two  other  interesting  testimonies 
of  the  spiritual  and  devoted  state  of  his  heart 
may  be  here  mentioned.  A  short  time  before 
his  disease,  he  requested  one  of  his  family  to 
write  down  for  him  in  a  book  the  following  sen- 
tence ;  ' "  None  but  Christ,  none  but  Christ," 
said  Lambert  dying  at  a  stake  :  the  same,  in 
dying  circumstances,  with  his  whole  heart,  saith 
Richard  Cecil.'  The  name  was  signed  by  him- 
self, with  his  left  hand,  in  a  manner  hardly  leg- 
ible through  infirmity." 

Such  was  Mr.  Cecil.  I  sincerely  regret  that 
some  masterly  observer  did  not  both  enjoy  and 
improve  opportunities  of  delineating  a  more 


76  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

perfect  picture  of  his  great  mind.  I  have, 
however,  faithfully  detailed,  the  impressions 
which  his  character  made  on  me,  during  a  long 
course  of  affectionate  admiration  of  him  :  nor 
have  I  shrunk  from  intermingling  such  remarks, 
as  every  faithful  observer  must  find  occasion 
to  make  while  he  is  watching  the  unfoldings 
of  the  best  and  greatest  of  men. 

CHRISTIAN  PARENTS,  and  particularly  CHRIS- 
TIAN MOTHERS,  may  gather  from  the  history  and 
character  of  our  departed  friend  every  possible 
encouragement  to  the  unwearied  care  of  their 
children.  While  St.  Austin,  Bishop  Hall,  Rich- 
ard Hooker,  John  Newton,  Richard  Cecil,  and 
many  other  great  andeminentservants  of  Christ, 
have  left  on  record  their  grateful  acknowledg- 
ments to  their  pious  mothers,  as  the  instruments, 
under  the  grace  and  blessing  of  God,  of  win- 
ning them  to  himself,  let  no  woman  of  faith  and 
prayer  despair  respecting  even  her  most  unto- 
ward child. 

Mr.  Cecil's  MERE  ADMIRERS  should  feel  what 
a  weight  of  responsiblity  his  ministry  and  his 
character  have  laid  them  under.  They  gave 
him  the  ear,  but  he  labored  for  the  heart. 
They  were  pleased  with  the  man,  but  he  pray- 
ed that  they  might  become  displeased  with 
themselves.  They  would  aid  him  in  his 
schemes,  but  he  was  anxious  that  they  should 
serve  his  Master.  How  soon  must  they  meet 
him  at  that  judgment-seat  before  which  all 
must  appear,  to  receive  according  to  what  they 
have  done  in  the  body  whether  good  or  evil  ! 

His  SINCERE  FRIENDS  are  called  to  imitate  his 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  77 

example — to  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ 
— to  live  above  this  vain  world — to  sacrifice 
every  thing  to  the  honour  of  Christ  and  the 
interests  of  Eternity — to  bear  up  under  pain 
and  weariness  and  anxiety,  leaning  on  Almigh- 
ty strength;  till  they  join  him  in  that  world 
where  weakness  shall  be  felt  no  more  ! 

JOSIAH  PRATT. 


REMARKS  MADE  BY  MR.  CECIL  CHIEF- 
LY IINT  CONVERSATION  WITH  THE 
EDITOR,  OR  IN  DISCUSSIONS  WHEN 
HE  WAS  PRPSENT. 

tc  Mult  a  ab  eo  prudent  er  disputata,  mult  a  etiam  brevi- 
ter  et  commode  dicta  memories,  mandabam,  Jierique 
studebam  ejus  prudent  iadoctior.'1'* — Cic.  de  Amicit.  I. 

On  the  Christian  Life  and  Conflict. 

THE  direct  cause  of  a  Christian's  spiritual  life, 
is  union  with  Christ.  All  attention  to  the  mere 
circumstantials  of  religion,  has  a  tendency  to 
draw  the  soul  away  from  this  union.  Few 
men,  except  ministers  are  called,  by  the  na- 
ture of  their  station,  to  enter  much  into  these 
circumstantials  : — such,  for  instance,  as  the 
evidences  of  the  truth  of  religion.  Ministers 
feel  this  deadening  effect  of  any  considerable 
or  continued  attention  to  externals  :  much  more 
must  private  Christians.  The  head  may  be 
strengthened,  till  the  heart  is  starved.  Some 
private  Christians,  however,  may  be  called  on, 
by  the  nature  of  those  circles  in  which  they 


78  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

move,  to  be  qualified  to  meet  and  refute  the 
objections  which  may  be  urged  against  religion. 
Such  men  as  well  as  ministers,  while  they  are 
furnishing  themselves  for  this  purpose,  must 
acquiesce  in  the  work  which  God  appoints  for 
them,  with  prayer  and  watchfulness.  If  they 
cannot  always  live  and  abide  close  to  the  ark, 
and  the  pot  of  manna,  and  the  cherubim,  and 
the  mercy  seat ;  yet  they  are  drawing  the  wa- 
ter and  gathering  the  wood  necessary  for  the 
service  of  the  camp.  But  let  their  hearts  still 
turn  toward  the  place  where  the  Glory  resi- 
deth. 


THE  Christian's  fellowship  with  God  is  rather 
a  habit,  than  a  rapture.  He  is  a  pilgrim,  who 
has  the  habit  of  looking  forward  to  the  light 
before  him  :  he  has  the  habit  of  not  looking 
back  :  he  has  the  habit  of  walking  steadily  in 
the  way,  whatever  be  the  weather,  and  what- 
ever the  road.  These  are  his  habits:  and  the 
Lord  of  the  Way  is  his  Guide,  Protector, 
Friend,  and  Felicity. 

As  the  Christian's  exigencies  arise,  he  has  a 
spiritual  habit  of  turning  to  God,  and  saying, 
with  the  Church,  u  Tell  me,  O  thou  whom  my 
soul  loveth,  where  thou  feedest^  where  thou.  mokest 
thy  flocks  to  rest  at  noon.  I  have  tried  to  find 
rest  elsewhere.  I  have  fled  to  shelters,  which 
held  out  great  promise  of  repose  ;  but  I  have 
now  long  since  learned  to  turn  unto  thee  :  Tell 
we,  O  thou  whom  my  soul  hvelh^  where  thou  feed- 
est)  where  thou  makest  thy  flocks  to  rest  at  noon." 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  79 

THE  Christian  will  look  back,  throughout  eter- 
nity, with  interest  and  delight,  on  the  steps 
and  means  of  his  conversion.  u  My  Father 
told  me  this  !  My  Mother  told  me  tliat !  Such 
an  event  was  sanctified  to  me  !  In  such  a  place, 
God  visited  my  soul  I"  These  recollections 
will  never  grow  dull  and  wearisome. 

A  VOLUME  might  be  written  on  the  various 
methods  which  God  has  taken,  in  Providence, 
to  lead  men  first  to  think  of  Him. 

THE  history  of  a  man's  own  life,  is  to  himself, 
the  most  interesting  history  in  the  world,  next 
to  that  of  the  Scriptures.  Every  man  is  an 
original  and  solitary  character*  None  can  ei- 
ther understand  or  feel  the  book  of  his  own 
life  like  himself.  The  lives  of  other  men  are 
to  him  dry  and  vapid,  when  set  beside  his  own. 
,  He  enters  very  little  into  the  spirit  of  the  Old 
Testament,  who  does  not  see  God  calling  on 
him  to  turnover  the  pages  of  this  history  when 
he  says  to  the  Jew,  Thou  shalt  remember  all  the 
way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  led  thee  these  forty 
years.  He  sees  God  teaching  the  Jew  to  look 
at  the  records  of  his  deliverance  from  the  Red 
Sea,  of  the  manna  showered  down  on  him  from 
heaven,  and  of  the  Amalekites  put  to  flight  be- 
fore him.  There  are  such  grand  events  in  the 
life  and  experience  of  every  Christian.  It  may 
be  well  for  him  to  review  them  often.  I  have, 
in  some  cases,  vowed  before  God  to  appropri- 
ate yearly  remembrances  of  some  of  the  signal 
turns  of  my  life.  Having  made  the  vow,  I 


80  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

hold  it  as  obligatory  :  but  I  would  advise  others 
to  greater  circumspection  ;  as  they  may  bring 
a  galling  yoke  on  themselves,  which  God  de- 
signed not  to  put  on  them. 

TRUE  grace  is  a  growing  principle.  The  Chris- 
tian grows  in  DISCERNMENT:  a  child  may  play 
with  a  serpent  ;  but  the  man  gets  as  far  from 
it  as  he  can  :  a  child  may  taste  poison  ;  but 
the  man  will  not  suffer  a  speck  of  poison  near 
him.  He  grows  in  HUMILITY:  the  blade  shoots 
up  boldly,  and  the  };oung  ear  keeps  erect  with 
confidence  ;  but  the  full  corn  in  the  ear  inclines 
itself  toward  the  earth  not  because  it  is  feebler, 
but  because  it  is  matured.  He  grows  in  STRENGTH: 
the  new  wine  ferments  and  frets  ;  but  the  old 
wine  acquires  a  body  and  a  firmness. 

TENDERNESS  of  conscience  is  always  to  be  dis- 
tinguished from  scrupulousness.  The  con- 
science cannot  be  kept  too  sensible  and  tender  : 
but  scrupulousness  arises  from  bodily  or  mental 
infirmity,  and  discovers  itself  in  a  multitude  of 
ridiculous,  and  superstitious,  and  painful  feel- 
ings. 

THE  head  is  dull,  in  discerning  the  value  of 
God's  expedients ;  and  the  heart  cold,  slug- 
gish, and  reluctant,  in  submitting  to  them:  but 
the  head  is  lively,  in  the  invention  of  its  own 
expedients  ;  and  the  heart  eager  and  sanguine, 
in  the  pursuit  of  them.  JVo  wonder,  then,  that 
God  subjects  both  the  head  and  the  heart  to  a 
course  of  continual  correction. 


REMAINS  OF  MR,  CECIL.  81 

EVERY  man  will  have  his  own  criterion  in  form- 
ing his  judgment  of  others.  1  depend  very 
much  on  the  effect  of  affliction.  I  consider 
how  a  man  comes  out  of  the  furnace  :  gold 
will  lie  for  a  month  in  the  furnace  without  los- 
ing a  grain.  And,  while  under  trial,  a  child 
has  a  hahit  of  turning  to  his  father :  he  is  not 
like  a  penitent,  who  has  been  whipped  into 
this  state  :  it  is  natural  to  him.  It  is  dark,  and 
the  child  has  no  where  to  run,  but  to  his  fa- 
ther. 

DEFILEMENT  is  inseparable  from  the  world.  A 
man  can  no  where  rest  his  foot  on  it  without 
sinking.  A  strong  principle  of  assimulation 
combines  the  world  and  the  heart  together. 
There  are,  especially,  certain  occasions,  when 
the  current  hurries  a  man  away,  and  he  has 
lostthe  religious  government  of  himself.  When 
the  pilot  finds,  on  making  the  port  of  Messina, 
that  the  ship  will  not  obey  the  helm,  he  knows 
that  she  is  got  within  the  influence  of  that  at- 
traction, which  will  bury  her  in  the  whirlpool. 
We  are  to  avoid  the  danger,  rather  than  to 
oppose  it.  This  is  a  great  doctrine  of  Scrip- 
ture. An  active  force  against  the  \vorld  is  not 
so  much  inculcated,  as  a  retreating,  declining 
spirit.  Keep  thyself  unspotted  from  the  world. 


THERE  are  seasons  when  a  Christian's  distin- 
guishing character  is  hidden  from  man.  A 
Christian  merchant  on  'Change  is  not  called 
to  shew  any  difference  in  his  mere  exterior 
carriage  from  another  merchant.  He 
8 


82  REMAINS   OF  MR.  CECIL. 

a  reasonable  answer  if  he  is  asked  a  question. 
He  does  not  fanatically  intrude  religion  into 
every  sentence  he  utters.  He  does  not  sup- 
pose his  religion  to  be  inconsistent  with  the 
common  interchange  of  civilities.  He  is  affa- 
ble and  courteous.  He  can  ask  the  news  of 
the  day,  and  take  up  any  public  topic  of  con- 
versation. But  is  he,  therefore,  not  different 
from  other  men  ?  He  is  like  another  merchant 
in  the  mere  exterior  circumstance,  which  is 
least  in  God's  regard ; — but,  in  his  taste  ! — 
his  views  ! — his  science  ! —  his  hopes  — -his 
happiness  !  he  is  as  different  from  those  around 
him  as  light  is  from  darkness.  He  waits  for 
the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  who  nev- 
er passes  perhaps  through  the  thoughts  of 
those  he  talks  with,  but,to  be  neglected  and 
despised  ! 

THE  Christian  is  called  to  be  like  Abraham,  in 
conduct;  like  Pan!,  in  labors;  and  like  John, 
in  spirit.  Though,  as  a  man  of  faith,  he  goes 
forth  not  knowing  whither,  and  his  principle 
is  hidden  from  the  world,  yet  he  will  oblige 
the  world  to  acknowledge:  tw  His  views,  it  is 
true,  we  do  not  understand.  His  principles 
and  general  conduct  are  a  mystery  to  us.  But 
a.  more  upright,  noble,  generous,  disinterested, 
peaceable,  and  benevolent  man,  we  know  not 
where  to  find."  The  world  may  even  count 
him  a  madman  ;  and  false  brethren  may  vilify 
his  character,  and  calumniate  his  motive*  :  yet 
he  will  he;»r  down  evil,  by  repaying  good; 
and  will  silence  his  enemies,  by  the  abundance 


REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL.  83 

of  his  labours.  He  may  be  shut  out  from  the 
world — cast  into  prison — banished  into  obscu- 
rity— no  eye  to  observe  him,  no  hand  to  help 
him — hut  it  is  enough  for  him.  if  his  Saviour 
will  speak  to  him  and  smile  on  him  ! 

CHRISTIANS  are  too  little  aware  what  their  re- 
ligion requires  from  then),  with  regard  to  their 
WISHES.  When  we  wish  things  to  he  otherwise 
than  they  are  ;  we  lose  sight  of  the  great  prac- 
tical parts  of  the  life  of  godliness.  We  wish, 
and  wish — when,  if  we  have  done  all  that  lies 
on  us,  we  should  fall  quietly  into  the  hands  of 
God.  Such  wishing  cuts  the  very  sinews  of  our 
privileges  and  consolations.  You  are  leaving 
me  for  a  time  ;  and  you  say  you  wish  you  could 
leave  me  better,  or  leave  me  with  some  assis- 
tance :  but,  if  it  is  right  for  you  to  go,  it  is  right 
for  me  to  meet  what  1-es  on  me,  without  a  wish 
thdt  I  had  less  to  meet,  or  were  better  able  to 
meet  it. 

I  COULD  write  down  twenty  cases,  wherein  I 
wished  God  had  done  otherwise  than  he  did; 
but  which  I  now  see,  had  1  had  my  own  will, 
would  have  led  to  extensive  mischief.  The 
life  of  a  Christian  is  a  life  of  paradoxes.  He 
must  lay  hold  on  God  :  he  must  follow  hard  af- 
ter him  :  he  must  determine  not  to  let  him  go. 
And  yet  he  must  learn  to  let  God  alone.  Qui- 
etness before  God  is  one  of  the  most  difficult 
of  all  Christian  graces — to  sit  where  he  places 
us;  to  be  what  he  would  have  us  to  be,  and 
this  as  long  as  he  pleases.  We  are  like  a 


84  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

player  at  bowls  :  if  he  has  given  his  bowl  too 
little  bias,  he  cries,  u  Flee  :"  if  he  has  given 
it  too  much,  he  cries,  "  Rub,"  you  see  him 
lifting  his  leg,  and  bending  his  body,  in  con- 
formity to  the  motion  he  would  impart  to  the 
bowl.  Thus  1  have  felt  with  regard -to  my 
dispensations:  I  would  urge  them  or  restrain 
them  :  I  would  assimilate  them  to  the  habit  of 
rny  mind.  But  1  have  smarted  for  this  under 
severe  visitations.  It  may  seem  a  harsh,  but 
it  is  a  wise  and  gracious  dispensation,  toward 
a  man,  when,  the  instant  he  stretches  out  his 
hand  to  order  his  affairs,  God  forces  him  to 
withdraw  it.  Concerning  what  is  morally  good 
or  evil,  we  are  sufficiently  informed  for  our  di- 
rection ;  but  concerning  what  is  naturally  good 
or  evil,  we  are  ignorance  itself.  Restlessness 
and  self-will  are  opposed  to  our  duty  in  these 
cases. 

SCHOOLING  THE  HEART  is  the  grand  means  of 
personal  religion.  To  bring  motives  under 
faithful  examination,  is  a  high  state  of  religious 
character:  with  regard  to  the  depravity  of  the 
heart  we  live  daily  in  the  disbelief  of  our  own 
creed.  We  indulge  thoughts  and  feelings, 
which  are  founded  upon  the  presumption  that 
all-around  us  are  imperfect  and  corrupted,  but 
that  we  are  exempted.  The  self-will  and  am- 
bition and  passion  of  public  characters  in  the 
religious  world,  all  arise  from  this  sort  of  prac- 
tical infidelity.  And  though  its  effects  are  so 
manifest  in  these  men,  because  they  are  lead- 
ers of  parties,  and  are  set  upon  a  pinnacle  so 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  85 

that  all  who  are  without  the  influence  of  their 
vortex  can  see  them ;  yet  every  man's  own 
breast  has  an  infallible,  dogmatizing,  excom- 
municating, and  anathematizing  spirt  working 
within. 

Acting  from  the  occasion,  without  recollec- 
tion and  inquiry,  is  the  death  of  personal  reli- 
gion. It  will  not  suffice  merely  to  retire  to  the 
study  or  the  closet.  The  mind  is  sometimes,  in 
private,  most  ardently  pursuing  its  particular 
object;  and,  as  it  then  acts  from  the  occasion, 
nothing  is  further  from  it  than  recollectedness. 
I  have  for  weeks  together,  in  pursuit  of  some 
scheme,  acted  so  entirely  from  the  occasion, 
that,  when  I  have  at  length  called  myself  to 
account,  1  have  seemed  like  one  awaked  from 
a  dream.  lk  Am  I  the  man  who  could  think  and 
and  speak  so  and  so  ?  Am  I  the  man,  who  could 
feel  such  a  disposition,  or  discover  such  con- 
duct ?"  The  fascination  and  enchantment  of  the 
occasion  is  vanished  ;  and  I  stand  like  David  in 
similar  circumstances  before  Nathan.  Such 
cases  in  experience  are,  in  truth,  a  moral  in- 
toxication ;  and  the  man  is  only  then  sober, 
when  he  begins  to  school  his  heart. 

THE  servant  of  God  has  not  only  natural  sensi- 
bilities, by  which  he  feels,  in  common  with  oth- 
er men,  the  sorrows  of  life  ;  but  he  has  moral 
sensibilities,  which  are  peculiar  to  his  charac- 
ter. When  David  was  driven  from  his  king- 
dom, he  not  only  felt  depressed  as  an  exile 
and  wanderer;  but  he  would  recollect  his  own 
sin  as  punished  in  the  affliction.  EH  had  not 
8* 


£6  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

only  to  suffer  the  pangs  of  a  father  in  the  loss 
of  his  sons;  hut  he  would  recal,  with  bitter- 
ness of  spirit,  his  own  mismanagement,  in  bring- 
ing up  these  sons.  St.  Paul  had  not  only  to  en- 
dure the  thorn  in  the  flesh  ;  but  he  would  feel 
that  he  carried  about  him  propensities  to  self- 
exaltation,  which  rendered  that  thorn  neces- 
sary and  salutary. 

DANGEROUS  PREDICAMENTS  are  the  brinks  of  temp- 
tations. A  man  often  gives  evidence  to  others 
that  he  is  giddy,  though  he  is  not  aware  of  it 
perhaps  himself.  Whoever  has  been  in  danger 
himself  will  guess  very  shrewdly  concerning 
the  dangerous  state  of  such  a  man. 

A  haughty  spirit  is  a  symptom  of  extreme 
danger — A  haughty  spirit  goeih  before  a  fall. 

Presumptuous  carelessness  indicates  danger. 

u  Who  fears  ?"  This  is  to  be  feared,  that  you 
feel  no  cause  of  fear.  Such  was  Peter's  state  : 
Though  all  men  forsake  thee,  yet  will  not  I. 

Venturing  on  the  borders  of  danger  is  much 
akin  to  this.  A  man  goes  on  pretty  well  till 
he  ventures  within  the  atmosphere  of  danger: 
but  the  atmosphere  of  danger  infatuates  him. 
The  ship  is  got  within  the  influence  of  the 
vortex,  and  will  not  obey  the  helm.  David 
was  sitting  in  this  atmosphere  on  the  house- 
top, and  was  ensnared  and  fell. 

An  accession  of  wealth  is  a  dangerous  predic- 
ament for  a  man.  At  first  he  is  stunned,  if 
the  accession  be  sudden  :  he  is  very  humble 
and  very  grateful.  Then  he  begins  to  speak 
a  little  louder,  people  think  him  more  sensible, 
and  soon  he  thinks  himself  so. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  87 

A  man  is  In  imminent  danger  when,  in  suspect- 
ed circumstances*  he  is  disposed  to  equivocate,  as 
Abraham  did  with  Pharaoh,  and  Isaac  with 
Abimelech. 

Stupidity  of  conscience  under  chastisement 
— an  advancement  to  power,  when  a  man  be- 
gins to  relish  such  power — popularity—self  in- 
dulgence—a  disposition  to  gad  about,  like  Dinah 
— all  these  are  symptoms  of  spiritual  danger. 

A  CHANGE  OF  CIRCUMSTANCES  in  our  condition 
of  life  is  a  critical  period.  No  man  who  has  not 
passed  through  such  a  change,  can  form  any 
adequate  notion  of  its  effects  upon  the  mind. 
When  money  comes  into  the  pocket  of  a  poor 
man  in  small  sums,  it  goes  out  as  it  came  in, 
and  more  follows  it  in  the  same  way;  and  with 
a  certain  freedom  and  indifference,  it  is  applied 
to  its  proper  uses:  but  when  he  begins  to  re- 
ceive round  sums,  that  may  yield  him  an  in- 
terest, and  when  this  interest  comes  to  be  add- 
ed to  his  principal,  and  the  sweets  of  augmen- 
tation to  creep  over  him,  it  is  quite  a  new  world 
to  him.  In  a  rise  of  circumstances,  too,  the 
man  becomes,  in  his  own  opinion,  a  wiser  man, 
a  greater  man  ;  and  pride  of  station  crosses  him 
in  his  way.  Nor  is  the  contrary  change  less 
dangerous.  Poverty  has  its  trials.  That  is  a 
fine  trait  in  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  that  Chris- 
tian stumbled  in  going  down  the  Hill  into  the 
Valley  of  Humiliation. 

A  SOUND  head,  a  simple  heart,  and  a  spirit  de- 
pendent on  Christ,  will  suffice  to  conduct  us  in 
every  variety  of  circumstances. 


88  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

I  CANNOT  look  through  my  past  life  without 
trembling.  A  variation  in  my  circumstances 
has  been  attended  with  dangers  and  difficulties, 
little  of  which  I  saw  at  the  time  compared  with 
what  reflection  has  since  shewn  me,  but  which 
in  the  review  of  them  make  me  shudder,  and 
ought  to  fill  me  with  gratitude.  He,  who  views 
this  subject  aright,  will  put  up  particular  pray- 
ers against  sudden  attacks. 

GOD  will  have  the  Christian  thoroughly  hum- 
bled and  dependent.  Strong  minds  think  per- 
haps sometimes,  that  they  can  effect  great  things 
in  experience  by  keeping  themselves  girt  up, 
by  the  recurrence  of  habit,  by  vigorous  exer- 
tion. This  is  their  unquestionable  duty.  But 
God  often  strips  them,  lest  they  should  grow 
confident.  He  lays  them  bare — He  makes 
them  feel  poor,  dark,  impotent.  He  seems  to 
say,  "  Strive  with  all  your  vigor,  but  yet  1  am 
He  that  worketh  ail  in  all." 

THERE  is  no  calling  or  profession,  however  en- 
snaring in  many  respects  to  a  Christian  mind, 
provided  it  be  not  in  itself  simply  unlawful, 
wherein  God  has  not  frequently  raised  up  faith- 
ful witnesses,  who  have  stood  forth  for  exam- 
ples to  others,  in  like  situations,  of  the  practi- 
cability of  uniting  great  eminence  in  the  Chris- 
tian Life  with  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
their  profession,  however  difficult. 

FEAR  has  the  most  steady  effect  on  the  consti- 
tutional temperament  of  some  Christians,  to 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  89 

keep  them  in  their  course.  A  strong  sense  of 
DUTY  fixes  on  the  minds  of  others,  and  is  the 
prevailing1  principle  of  cpnduct,  without  any 
direct  reference  to  consequences.  On  minds 
of  a  stubborn,  refractory  and  self-vtilled  temper, 
fear  and  duty  have  in  general  little  effect:  they 
"brave  fear,  and  a  mere  sense  of  duty  is  a  cold 
and  lifeless  principle ;  but  GRATJTUDK,  under  a 
strong  and  subduing  sense  of  mercies,  melts 
them  into  obedience. 

THERE  is  a  large  class,  who  would  confound 
nature  and  grace.  These  are  chieily  women. 
They  sit  at  home,  nursing  themselves  over  a 
fire,  and  then  trace  up  the  natural  effects  of 
solitude  and  wnnt  of  air  and  exercise  into  spir- 
itual desertion.  There  is  more  pride  in  this 
than  they  are  aware  of  They  are  unwilling 
to  allow  so  simple  and  natural  a  cr«use  of  their 
feelings;  and  wish  to  find  something  in  the 
thing  more  sublime 

THERE  are  so  many  things  to  lower  a  man's 
topsails — he  is  such  a  dependent  creature — he 
is  to  pay  such  court  to  his  stomach,  his  food, 
his  sleep,  his  exercise — that,  in  truth,  a  hero 
is  an  idle  word.  Man  seems  formed  to  be  a 
hero  in  suffering — not  a  hero  in  action.  Men 
err  in  nothing  more  then  in  the  estimate  which 
they  make  of  human  labour.  The  hero  of  the 
world  is  the  man  that  makes  a  bustle — the  man 
that  makes  the  road  smoke  under  his  chaise-and- 
four — the  man  that  raises  a  dust  about  him — 
the  man  that  manages  or  devastates  empires  ! 


90  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

But  what  is  the  real  labor  of  this  man — compar- 
ed with  that  of  a  silent  sufferer?  He  lives  on 
his  projects.  He  encounters,  perhaps,  rough 
roads-  -incommodious  inns — bad  food — storms 
and  perils — weary  days  and  sleepless  nights  : 
— but  what  are  these  ! — his  project — his  point 
— the  thing  that  has  laid  hold  on  his  heart — 
glory — a  name — consequence-pleasure — wealth 
— these  render  the  man  callous  to  the  pains 
and  efforts  of  the  body!  1  have  been  in  both 
states,  and  therefore  understand  them  ;  and  I 
know  that  rpen  form  this  false  estimate.  Be- 
sides— there  is  something  in  bustle,  and  stir, 
and  activity,  that  supports  itself.  At  one  peri- 
od, I  preached  and  read  five  times  on  a  Sunday, 
and  rode  sixteen  miles.  But  what  did  it  cost 
me  ?  Nothing !  Yet  most  men  would  have  look-, 
ed  on  while  I  was  rattling  from  village  to  vil- 
lage, with  all  the  dogs  barking  at  my  heels, 
and  would  have  called  me  a  hero:  whereas,  if 
they  were  to  look  at  me  now,  they  would  call 
me  an  idle,  lounging:  fellow.  "  He  makes  a 
Sermon  on  the  Saturday — he  gets  into  his  study 
— he  walks  from  end  to  end — he  scribbles  on 
a  scrap  of  paper — he  throws  it  away  and  scrib- 
bles on  another — he  takes  snuff — he  sits  down 
— scribbles  again — walks  about." — The  man 
cannot  see  that  here  is  an  exhaustion  of  the 
spirit,  which,  at  nigfht,  will  leave  me  worn  to 
the  extremity  of  endurance.  He  cannot  see 
the  numberless  efforts  of  mind,  which  are  cros- 
sed vand  stifled,  and  recoil  on  the  spirits;  like 
the  fruitless  efforts  of  a  traveller  to  get  firm 


REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECIL.  91 

footing1  among1  the  ashes  on  the  steep  sides  of 
Mount  Etna.* 

ELIJAH  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  what  we 
call  a  GRKAT  SPIRIT  :  yet  we  never  find  him 'ris- 
ing against  the  humiliating  methods,  which 
God  was  sometimes  pleased  to  take  with  him; 
whether  he  is  to  depend  for  his  daily  food  on 
the  ravens,  or  is  to  he  nourished  by  the  slen- 
der pittance  of  a  perishing  widow.  Pride 
won  id  choose  for  us  such  means  of  provision, 
as  have  some  appearance  of  our  own  agency 
in  them  ;  arid  stout-heartedness  would  lead  us 
to  refuse  things,  if  we  cannot  have  them  in  our 
own  way. 

THE  blessed  man  is  he,  who  is  under  education 
in  God's  school  ;  where  he  endures  chastise- 
ment, and  by  chastisement  is  instructed.  The 
foolish  creature  is  bewitched,  sometimes  with 
the  enchantments  and  sorceries  of  life.  He 
begins  to  lose  the  lively  sense  of  that  some- 
thing, which  is  superior  to  the  glory  of  the 
world.  His  grovelling  soul  begins  to  say,  u  Is 
not  this  tine?  Is  not  that  charming?  Is  not 
that  noble  house  worth  a  wish?  Is  not  that 
equipage  worth  a  sigh  ?91  He  must  go  to  the 
Word  of  God  to  know  what  a  thing  is  worth. 
He  must  be  taught  there  to  call  things  by  their 
proper  names.  If  he  have  lost  this  habitt  when 
his  heart  puts  the  questions  he  will  answer 
them  like  a  fool  ;  as  I  have  done  a  thousand 

*  See  the  Adventurer,  No.  cxxvii.     J.  P. 


92  REMAINS,,  OF   MR.    CECIL. 

times.  He  will  forget  that  God  puts  his  child- 
ren into  possession  of  these  things,  as  mere 
stewards  ;  and  that  the  possession  of  them  in- 
creases their  responsibility.  He  will  sit  down, 
and  plan  and  scheme  to  obtain  possession  of 
things,  which  he  forgets  are  to  be  burnt  and 
destroyed.  But  God  dashes  the  fond  scheme 
in  pieces.  He  disappoints  the  project.  And, 
with  the  chastisement  he  sends  instruction  ; 
for  he  knows  that  the  silly  creature,  if  left  to 
himself,  would  begin,  like  the  spider  whose 
web  has  been  swept  away,  to  spin  it  again. 
And  then  the  man  sees  that  Job  is  blessed — 
not,  when  God  gives  him  sons  and  daughters, 
and  flocks,  and  herds,  and  power,  and  honor; 
but  when  God  takes  all  these  away — not  when 
the  schemes  of  his  carnal  heart  are  indulged; 
but  when  they  are  crossed  and  disappointed. 
A  STUBBORN  and  rebellious  mind  in  a  Christian, 
must  be  kept  low  by  dark  and  trying  dispensa- 
tions. The  language  of  God,  in  his  providence, 
to  such  an  one,  is  generally  of  this  kind:  '•  I 
will  not  wholly  hide  myself  I  will  be  seen 
by  thee.  But  thou  shalt  never  meet  me,  ex- 
cept in  a  dark  night  and  in  a  storm."  Minis- 
ters of  such  a  natural  spirit  are  often  fitted  for 
eminent  usefulness  by  these  means. 

THE  Christian,  in  his  sufferings,  is  often  tempt- 
ed to  think  himself  forgotten.  But  his  afflic- 
tions are  the  clearest  proofs,  that  he  is  an  object 
both  of  Satan's  enmity,  and  of  God's  fatherly 
discipline.  Satan  would  not  have  mnn  suffer 
a  single  trouble  all  his  life  long,  if  he  might 


REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECIL.  93 

have  his  way.  He  would  give  him  the  thing 
his  heart  is  set  upon.  He  would  work  in  with 
his  ambition.  He  would  pamper  his  lust 
and  his  pride.  But  God  has  bettor  things  in 
reserve  for  his  children  :  and  they  must  be 
brought  to  desire  them  and  seek  them  ;  and 
this  will  be  .through  the  wreck  and  sacrifice  of 
all  that  the  heart  holds  dear.  The  Christian 
prays  for  fuller  manifestations  of  Christ's  pow- 
er and  glory  and  love  to  him  ;  but  he  is  often 
not  aware,  that  this  is,  in  truth,  praying  to  be 
brought  into  the  furnace  ;  for  in  the  furnace 
only  it  is,  that  Christ  can  walk  with  his  friends, 
and  display,  in  their  preservation  and  deliver- 
ance, his  own  almighty  power.  Yet  when 
brought  thither,  it  is  one  of  the  worst  parts  of 
the  trial,  that  the  Christian  often  thinks  him- 
self, for  a  time  at  least,  abandoned.  Job  thought 
so.  But  while  he  looked  on  himself  as  an  out- 
cast, the  infinite  Spirit  and  the  wicked  Spirit 
were  holding  a  dialogue  on  his  case  !  He  was* 
more  an  object  of  notice  and  interest,  than  the 
largest  armies  that  were  ever  assembled,  and 
the  mightiest  revolutions  that  ever  shook  the 
world,  considered  merely  in  their  temporal 
interests  and  consequences.  Let  the  Christian 
be  deeply  concerned,  in  all  his  trials,  to  hon- 
our his  Master  before  such  observers! 

AFFLICTION  has  a  tendency,  especially  if  long 
continued,  to  generate  a  kind  of  despondency 
and  ill-temper  :  and  spiritual  incapacity  is  close- 
ly connected  with  pain  and  sickness.  The  spir- 
it of  prayer  does  not  necessarily  come  with 
9 


91  REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECIL. 

affliction.  If  this  be  not  poured  out  upon  the 
man,  he  will  like  a  wounded  beast,  skulk  to  his 
den  arid  growl  there. 

GOD  has  marked  IMPLICITNESS  AND  SIMPLICITY  OF 
FAITH  with  peculiar  approbation.  He  has  done 
this  throughout  the  Scripture  ;  and  he  is  doing 
it  daily  in  the  Christian  life.  An  unsuspecting, 
unquestioning,  unhesitating  spirit  he  delights 
to  honor.  He  does  not  delight  in  a  credulous, 
weak,  and  unstable  mind.  He  gives  us  full  evi- 
dence, when  he  calls  and  leads  ;  but  he  expects 
to  tind  in  us — what  he  himself  bestows — an  open 
ear  and  a  disposed  heart.  Though  he  gives 
us  not  the  evidence  of  sense ;  yet  he  gives 
such  evidence  as  will  be  heard  by  an  open  ear, 
and  followed  by  a  disposed  heart: — Thomas! 
because  thou  hast  seen  me  thou  hast  believed  :  bless- 
ed are  they  that  have  not  seen  and  yet  have  be" 
lieved.  We  are  witnesses  what  an  open  ear 
and  a  disposed  heart  will  do  in  men  of  the 
world.  If  wealth  is  in  pursuit — if  a  place  pre- 
sents itself  before  them — if  their  persons  and 
families  and  affairs  arc  the  object — a  whisper, 
a  hint,  a  probability,  a  mere  chance,  is  a  suffi- 
cient ground  of  action.  Jt  is  this  very  state  of 
mind  with  regard  to  religion,  which  God  de- 
lights in  and  honors.  He  seems  to  put  forth  his 
hand,  and  to  say — u  Put  thy  hand  into  mine. 
Follow  all  my  leadings.  Keep  thyself  atten- 
tive to  every  turn." 

A  SOUND  heart  is  an  excellent  casuist.  Men 
stand  doubting  what  they  shall  do,  while  an 


REMAINS  OF    MR.  CECIL.  95 

evil  heart  is  at  the  bottom.  If,  with  St.  Paul, 
they  simply  did  one  thing,  the  way  would  be 
plain.  A  miser,  or  an  ambitious  man,  knows 
his  points  ;  and  he  has  such  a  simplicity  in  the 
pursuit  of  them,  that  you  seldom  tind  him  at  a 
loss  about  the  steps  which  he  should  take  to 
attain  them.  He  has  acquired  a  sort  of  instinc- 
tive habit  in  his  pursuit.  Simplicity  and  recti- 
tude would  have  prevented  a  thousand  schisms 
in  the  Church;  which  have  generally  risen 
from  men  having-  something  else  in  plan  and 
prospect,  and  not  the  one  thing. 

WHAT  /  do  thou  knowest  not  now  ;  but  thou  shalt 
know  hereafter — is  the  unwearied  language  of 
God,  in  his  providence.  He  will  have  CREDIT 
every  step.  He  will  not  assign  reasons,  be- 
cause he  will  exercise  faith. 

PRIDE  urges  men  to  inquire  into  the  PHILOSOPHY 
of  Divine  truth.  They  are  not  contented,  for 
example,  with  the  account  which  the  Bible 
gives  of  the  origin  of  evil,  and  its  actual  riaflu- 
ence  on  mankind  ;  but  they  would  supply  what 
God  has  left  untold.  They  would  explain  the 
fitness  and  propriety  of  things.  A  mathemati- 
cian may  summon  his  scholars  round  his  chair, 
and  from  self-evident  principles  deduce  and 
demonstrate  his  conclusions :  he  has  axioms  ; 
but  concerning  evil  we  have  none.  A  Christ- 
ian may  say  on  this  subject,  as  Sir  Christopher 
Wren  did  concerning  the  roof  of  King's  College 
Chapel — u  Shew  me  how  to  fix  the  first  stone, 
and  I  will  finish  the  building.1" — u  Explain  the 


96 

origin  of  evil,  and  I  will  explain  every  other 
difficulty  respecting  evil."  We  are  placed  in 
a  disposition  and  constitution  of  things,  under  a 
righteous  Governor.  If  we  will  not  rest  satis- 
fied with  this,  something  is  wrong  in  our  state 
of  mind.  It  is  a  solid  satisfaction  to  every  man 
who  has  been  seduced  into  foolish  inquiries 
that  it  is  utterly  impossible  to  advance  one  inch 
by  them.  He  must  come  back  to  rest  in  God's 
appointment.  He  must  come  back  to  sit  pa- 
tiently, meekly,  and  with  docility,  at  the  feet 
of  a  teacher. 


DUTIES  are  ours:  events  are  God's.  This  re- 
moves an  infinite  burden  from  the  shoulders  of 
a  miserable,  tempted,  dying  creature.  On  this 
consideration  only,  can  he  securely  lay  down 
his  head  and  close  his  eyes. 

THE  Christian  often  thinks,  and  schemes,  and 
talks,  like  a  practical  Atheist.  His  eye  is  so 
conversant  with  second  causes,  that  the  great 
Mover  is  little  regarded.  And  yet  those  sen- 
timents and  that  conduct  of  others,  by  which 
his  affairs  are  influenced,  are  not  formed  by 
chance  and  at  random.  They  are  attracted  to- 
ward the  system  of  his  affairs,  or  repelled  from 
them,  by  the  highest  power.  We  talk  of  at- 
traction in  the  universe ;  but  there  is  no  such 
thing,  as  we  are  accustomed  to  consider  it.  The 
natural  and  moral  worlds  are  held  together  in 
their  respective  operations,  by  an  incessant 
administration.  It  is  the  mighty  grasp  of  a 
controlling  hand,  which  keeps  every  thing  in 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  97 

its  station.  Were  this  control  suspended,  there 
is  nothing  adequate  to  the  preservation  of  har- 
mony and  affection  between  my  mind  and  that 
of  my  dearest  friend,  for  a  single  hour. 

LORD  Chesterfield  tells  his  son,  that  when  he 
entered  into  the  world  and  heard  the  conjec- 
tures and  notions  about  public  affairs,  he  was 
surprised  at  their  folly;  because  he  was  in  the 
secret,  and  knew  what  was  passing  in  the  cab- 
inet. We  negotiate.  We  make  treaties.  We 
make  war.  We  cry  for  peace.  We  have  pub- 
lic hopes  and  fears.  We  distrust  one  minister, 
and  we  repose  on  another.  We  recal  one  gen- 
eral or  admiral,  because  he  has  lost  the  nation- 
al confidence,  and  we  send  out  another  with  a 
full  tide  of  hopes  and  expectations.  We  find 
something  in  men  and  measures,  as  the  suffi- 
cient cause  of  ail  sufferings  or  anticipations. — 
But  a  religious  man  enters  the  cabinet.  He 
sees,  in  all  pubhc  fears  and  difficulties,  the 
pressure  of  God's  hand.  So  long  as  this  pres- 
sure continues,  he  knows  that  we  may  move 
heaven  and  earth  in  vain  :  every  thing  is  bound 
up  in  icy  fetters.  But,  when  God  removes  his 
hand,  the  waters  flow  ;  measures  avail,  and 
hopes  are  accomplished. 

WE  are  too  apt  to  forget  our  actual  depend- 
ance  on  Providence,  for  the  circumstances  of 
every  instant.  The  most  trivial  events  may 
determine  our  state  in  the  world.  Turning  up 
one  street  instead  of  another,  may  bring  us  into 
company  with  a  person  whom  we  should  not 
9* 


98  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

otherwise  have  met;  and  this  may  lead  to  a 
train  of  other  events,  which  may  determine 
the  happiness  or  misery  of  our  lives. 

LIGHT  may  break  in  upon  a  man  after  he  has 
taken  a  particular  step  ;  hut  he  will  not  con- 
demn himself  for  the  step  taken  in  a  less  degree 
of  Jig-lit :  he  may  hereafter  see  still  hetter  than 
he  now  does,  and  have  reason  to  alter  his  opin- 
ion again.  It  is  enough  to  satisfy  us  of  our 
duty,  if  we  are  conscious  that  at  the  time  we 
take  a  step,  we  have  an  adequate  motive.  If 
we  are  conscious  of  a  wrong  motive,  or  of  a 
rash  proceeding,  for  such  steps  we  must  expect 
to  suffer. 

Trouble  or  difficulty  befalling1  us  after  any 
particular  step,  is  not,  of  itself,  an  argument 
that  the  step  was  wrong.  A  storm  overtook 
the  disciples  in  the  ship  ;  but  this  was  no  proof 
that  they  had  done  wrong  to  go  on  board.  Esau 
met  Jacob,  and  occasioned  him  great  fear  and 
anxiety,  when  he  left  Laban ;  but  this  did  not 
prove  him  to  have  done  wrong  in  the  step 
which  he  had  taken.  Difficulties  are  no  ground 
of  presumption  against  us,  when  we  did  not  run 
into  them  in  following  our  own  will :  yet  the 
Israelites  were  with  difficulty  convinced  that 
they  were  in  the  path  of  duty,  when  they  found 
themselves  shut  in  by  the  Red  Sea.  Christ- 
ians, and  especially  ministers,  must  expect 
troubles  :  it  is  in  this  way  that  God  leads  them  : 
he  conducts  them  "  per  ardua  ad  aslra."  They 
would  be  in  imminent  danger  if  the  multitude 
at  all  times  cried  Hosanna ! 


REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL.  99 

We  must  remember  that  we  are  short-sight- 
ed creatures.  We  are  like  an  unskilful  chess- 
player, who  takes  the  next  piece,  while  a  skil- 
ful one  looks  further.  Ho,  who  sees  the  end 
from  the  beginning,  will  often  appoint  us  a  most 
inexplicable  way  to  walk  in.  Joseph  was  put 
into  the  pit  and  the  dungeon  :  but  this  was  the 
way  which  led  to  the  throne. 

We  often  want  to  know  too  much  and  too 
soon,  We  want  the  light  of  to-morrow,  but  it 
will  not  come  till  to-morrow.  And  then  a  slight 
turn,  perhaps,  will  throw  such  light  on  our 
path,  that  we  shall  be  astonished  we  saw  not 
our  way  before.  u  I  can  wait,"  says  Lavater. 
This  is  a  high  attainment.  We  must  labor, 
therefore,  to  be  quiet  in  that  path,  from  which 
we  cannot  recede  without  danger  and  evil. 

THERE  is  not  a  nobler  sight  in  the  world,  than 
an  aged  and  experienced  Christian,  who,  hav- 
ing been  sifted  in  the  sieve  of  temptation,  stands 
forth  as  a  confirmer  of  the  assaulted — testify- 
ing, from  his  own  trials,  the  reality  of  religion ; 
and  meeting,  by  his  warnings  and  directions 
and  consolations,  the  cases  of  all  who  may  be 
tempted  to  doubt  it, 

THE  Christian  expects  his  reward,  not  as  due 
to  merit ;  but  as  connected,  in  a  constitution  of 
grace,  with  those  acts  which  grace  enables 
him  to  perform.  The  pilgrim,  who  has  been 
led  to  the  gate  of  heaven,  will  not  knock  there 
as  worthy  of  being  admitted  ;  but  the  gate 
shall  open  to  him,  because  he  is  brought  thith- 


100  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL. 

er.  He,  who  sows,  even  with  tears,  the  pre- 
cious  seed  of  faith,  hope,  and  love,  shall  doubt- 
less come  again  with  joy,  and  bring  his  sheaves  - 
with  him;  because  it  is  in  the  very  nature  of 
that  seed,  to  yield,  under  the  kindly  influence 
secured  to  it,  a  joyful  harvest. 


ON  SUBJECTS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE 
CHRISTIAN  MINISTRY. 

On  a  Minister's  qualifying  himself  for  his  office. 

WHEN  a  young  minister  sets  out,  he  should  sit 
down  and  ask  himself  HOW  HE  MAY  BEST  QUALIFY 

HIMSELF  FOR  HIS  OFFICE. 

How  does  a  physician  qualify  himself!  It  is 
not  enough  that  he  offers  to  feel  the  pulse. 
He  must  read,  and  inquire,  and  observe,  and 
make  experiments,  and  correct  himself  again 
and  again.  He  must  lay  in  a  stock  of  medical 
knowledge  before  he  begins  to  feel  the  pulse. 

The  minister  is  a  physician  of  a  far  higher 
order.  He  has  a  vast  field  before  him.  He 
has  to  study  an  infinite  variety  of  constitutions. 
He  is  to  furnish  himself  with  the  knowledge 
of  the  whole  system  of  remedies.  He  is  to 
be  a  man  of  skill  and  expedient.  If  one  thing 
fail,  he  must  know  how  to  apply  another. 
Many  intricate  and  perplexed  cases  will  come 
before  him:  it  will  be  disgraceful  to  him  not 
to  be  prepared  for  such.  His  patients  will  put 
many  questions  to  him  :  it  will  be  disgraceful 
to  him  not  to  be  prepared  to  answer  them. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL.  101 

He  is  a  merchant  embarking  in  extensive  con- 
cerns. A  little  ready  money  in  the  pocket  will 
not  answer  the  demands  that  will  be  made  upon 
him.  Some  of  us  seem  to  think  it  will.  But  they 
are  grossly  deceived.  There  must  be  a  well 
furnished  account  at  the  banker's. 

But  it  is  not  all  gold  that  glitters.  A  young 
minister  must  learn  to  separate  and  select  his 
materials.  A  man  who  talks  to  himself  will 
find  out  what  suits  the  heart  of  man  :  some 
things  respond :  they  ring  again.  Nothing  of 
this  nature  is  lost  on  mankind :  it  is  worth  its 
weight  in  gold,  for  the  service  of  a  minister. 
He  must  remark,  too,  what  it  is  that  puzzles 
and  distracts  the  mind  :  all  this  is  to  be  avoided  : 
it  may  wear  the  garb  of  deep  research,  and 
great  acumen,  and  extensive  learning ;  but  it 
is  nothing  to  the  mass  of  mankind. 

One  of  the  most  important  considerations  in 
making  a  sermon,  is  to  disembarrass  it  as  much 
as  possible.  The  sermons  of  the  last  century 
were  like  their  large,  unwieldly  chairs.  Men 
have  now  a  far  more  true  idea  of  a  chair.  They 
consider  it  as  a  piece  of  furniture  to  sit  upon, 
and  they  cut  away  from  it  every  thing  that 
embarrasses  and  encumbers  h.  It  requires  as 
much  reflection  and  wisdom  to  know  what  is 
not  to  be  put  into  a  sermon,  as  what  is. 

A  young  minister  should  likewise  look  round 
him,  that  he  may  see  what  has  succeeded  and 
what  has  not.  Truth  is  to  be  his  companion, 
but  he  is  to  clothe  her  so  as  to  gain  her  access. 
Truth  must  never  bow  to  fashion  or  prejudice  ; 
but  her  garb  may  be  varied.  No  man  was  ev- 


102  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL. 

er  eminently  successful  in  his  ministry,  who 
did  not  make  Truth  his  friend.  Such  a  man 
might  not  see  her,  indeed,  in  all  her  beauty 
and  proportions  ;  but,  certainly,  he  saw  and 
loved  her.  A  young  minister  should  remem- 
ber that  she  does  not  wear  the  dress  of  a  par- 
ty. Wherever  she  is,  she  is  one  and  the  same, 
however  variously  men  may  array  her.  He, 
who  is  ignorant  of  her  prominent  and  distin- 
guishing features,  is  like  a  musician  who  plays 
half  score  :  it  grates  on  every  well-formed  ear; 
as  fatal  error  finds  no  corresponding  vibration 
in  the  renewed  heart.  Truth  forms  an  imme- 
diate acquaintance  with  such  a  heart,  by  a  cer- 
tain fitness  and  suitableness  to  its  state  and 
feelingsv  She  is  something  different  from  the 
picture  which  a  churchman  draws  of  her.  A 
Dissenter  misses  her  perfect  figure.  A  French- 
man distorts  her  features  in  one  way,  and  an 
Englishman  in  another.  Every  one  makes  his 
own  cast  and  color  too  essential  to  her. 

Knowledge,  then,  and  truth,  are  to  be  the 
constant  aim  of  a  young  minister.  But  where 
shall  he  find  them  ?  Let  him  learn  from  a  fool, 
if  a  fool  can  teach  him  any  thing.  Let  him  be 
every  where,  and  always  a  learner.  He  should 
imitate  Gainsborough.  Gainsborough  transfus- 
ed nature  into  his  landscapes,  beyond  almost  any 
of  his  contemporaries ;  because  Gainsborough 
was  every  where  the  painter.  Every  remark- 
able feature  or  position  of  a  tree — every  fine 
stroke  of  nature — was  copied  into  his  pocket- 
book  on  the  spot;  and,  in  his  next  picture,  ap- 
peared with  a  life  and  vivacity  and  nature, 


^  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL.  103 

which  no  strength  of  memory  or  imagination 
could  have  supplied. 

There  is  a  certain  wise  way,  too,  in  which 
he  should  accustom  himself  to  look  down  on 
the  pursuits  of  all  other  men.  No  man  of 
eminence  in  his  profession  is  destitute  of  such 
a  partial  feeling  for  his  profession  ;  though 
his  judgment  may  remonstrate  with  him  there- 
on, as  an  unfounded  partiality.  The  minister 
however,  is  REQUIRED  so  to  view  all  other  pur- 
suits. He  alone  is  the  man,  whose  aim  is  eter- 
nity. He  alone  is  the  man,  whose  office  and 
profession,  in  all  their  parts  are  raised  into 
dignity  and  importance  by  their  direct  refer- 
ence to  eternity.  For  eternity  he  schemes, 
and  plans,  and  labors. 

He  should  become  a  philosopher  also.  He 
should  make  experiments  on  himself  and  oth- 
ers, in  order  to  find  out  what  will  produce  ef- 
fect. He  is  a  fisherman  ;  and  the  fisherman 
must  fit  himself  to  his  employment.  If  some 
fish  will  bite  only  by  day,  he  must  fish  by  day  : 
if  others  will  bite  only  by  moon-light,  he  must 
fish  for  them  by  moon-light.  He  has  an  en- 
gine to  work,  and  it  must  be  his  most  assidu- 
ous endeavour  to  work  his  engine  to  the  full 
extent  of  its  powers  :  and,  to  find  out  its  pow- 
ers, is  the  first  step  toward  success  and  effect. 
Many  men  play  admirably  on  the  organ,  if  you 
would  allow  to  them  that  there  is  no  difference 
between  an  organ  and  a  harpsichord,  but  they 
have  utterly  mistaken  its  powers.  Combina- 
tion is  the  unrivalled  excellence  of  the  organ; 
and  therefore  he  only  can  display  its  powers, 


104  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

/  ; 

who  studies  the  chords  and  stops  in  all  their 
infinite  variety  of  resolution  arid  composition, 
rather  than  the  rapid  motion  of  his  fingers  only. 
But  all  the  minister's  efforts  will  be  vanity, 
or  worse  than  vanity,  if  he  have  not  unction. 
Unction  must  come  down  from  heaven,  and 
spread  a  savor  and  relish  and  feeling  over  his 
ministry.  And,  among  all  the  other  means  of 
qualifying  himself  for  his  office,  the  Bible  must 
hold  the  first  place,  and  the  last  also  must  be 
given  to  the  word  of  God  and  prayer. 

On  the  Assistance  which  a  Minister  has  reason  to 
expect  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Public  duty. 

MEN  have  carried  their  views  on  this  subject 
to  extremes.  Enthusiasts  have  said  that  learn- 
ing, and  that  studying  and  writing  sermons, 
have  injured  the  church.  The  accurate  men 
have  said,  "Go  and  hear  one  of  these  enthu- 
siasts hold  forth  !" 

But  both  classes  may  be  rendered  useful. 
Let  each  correct  its  evils,  yet  do  its  work  in 
its  own  way. 

Some  men  set  up  exorbitant  notions  about 
accuracy.  But  exquisite  accuracy  is  totally 
lost  on  mankind.  The  greater  part  of  those 
who  hear,  cannot  be  brought  to  see  the  points 
of  the  accurate  man.  The  Scriptures  are  not 
written  in  this  manner.  I  should  advise  a  young 
minister  to  break  through  all  such  cobwebs, 
as  these  unphilosophical  men  would  spin  round 
him.  An  humble  and  modest  man  is  silenced, 
if  he  sees  one  of  these  critics  before  him.  He 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  105 

should  say,  c;  I  am  God's  servant.  To  my  own 
master  I  stand  or  fall.  I  will  labor  according 
to  the  utmost  ability  which  God  givetb,  and 
leave  all  consequences  to  him." 

We  are  especially  taught  in  the  !Ve  -v  Tes- 
tament, to  glorify  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  and,  in 
his  gracious  operations  in  our  ministry,  we  are 
nearer  the  apostolic  times  than  we  often  think 
ourselves.  But  this  assistance  is  to  be  expect- 
ed by  us,  as  laborers  in  the  vineyard ;  not  as 
rhapsodists.  Idle  men  may  be  pointed  out, 
who  have  abused  the  doctrine  of  divine  assis- 
tance ;  but  what  has  not  been  abused  ?  We 
must  expect  a  special  blessing  to  accompany 
the  truth  :  not  to  supersede  labor,  but  to  rest 
on  and  accompany  labor. 

A  minister  is  to  be  in  season,  and  out  of  sea- 
son ;  and,  therefore,  every  where  a  minister. 
He  will  not  employ  himself  in  writing  secular 
histories :  he  will  not  busy  himself  in  prose- 
cuting mathematical  inquiries.  He  will  labor 
directly  in  his  high  calling:  and  indirectly,  in 
a  vast  variety  of  ways,  as  he  may  be  enabled  : 
and  God  may  bless  that  word  in  private,  which 
may  have  been  long  heard  in  public  in  vain. 

A  minister  should  satisfy  himself  in  saying, 
u  It  matters  not  what  men  think  of  my  talents. 
Am  I  doing  what  I  can  ?" — for  there  is  great 
encouragement  in  that  commendation  of  our 
Lord's,  She  hath  done  what  she  could.  It  would 
betray  a  wrong  state  of  rnind  to  say,  u  If  I  had 
discharged  my  duty  in  such  and  such  a  way, 
I  should  have  succeeded."  This  is  a  carnal 
spirit.  If  God  bless  the  simple  manner  in 
10 


106  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

which  you  spoke,  that  will  do  good  ;  if  not, 
no  manner  of  speaking  could  have  done  it. 

There  is  such  a  thing  in  the  religious'world 
,  as  a  cold,  carnal  wisdom  :  every  thing  must 
be  nicely  weighed  in  the  scales  :  every  thing 
must  be  exactly  measured  by  the  rule.  I  ques- 
tion if  this  is  not  worse,  in  its  consequences, 
than  the  enthusiasm  which  it  opposes.  Both 
are  evil  and  to  be  shunned.  But  I  scarcely 
ever  knew  a  preacher  or  writer  of  this  class 
who  did  much  good. 

We  are  to  go  forth,  expecting  the  excellency 
of  Go(Ts  power  to  accompany  us,  since  we  are 
but  earthen  vessels  :  and  if,  in  the  apostolic  days, 
diligence  was  necessary,  how  much  more  re^ 
quisite  is  it  now  ! 

But,  to  the  exercise  of  this  diligence,  a  suf- 
ficiency in  all  things  is  promised.  What  does 
a  minister  require  ?  In  all  these  respects  the 
promise  is  applicable  to  him.  He  needs,  for 
instance,  courage  and  patience  :  he  tnay,  there- 
fore, expect  that  the  Holy  Spirit  will  enable 
him  for  the  exercise  of  these  graces. 

A  minister  may  expect  more  superintendence, 
more  elevation,  than  a  hearer.  It  can  scarce- 
ly be  questioned  that  he  ought  to  pray  for  this  : 
if  so,  he  has  a  ground  in  Scripture  thus  to  pray. 

I  have  been  cured  of  expecting  the  Holy 
Spirit's  influence  without  due  preparation  on 
our  part,  bv  observing  how  men  preach  who 
take  up  that  error.  1  have  heard  such  men 
talk  nonsense  by  the  hour. 

We  must  combine  Luther  with  St.  Paul — 
"  Bene  orasse  est  bene  studuisse"  must  be  united 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  107 

with  St.  Paul's  Meditate  upon  these  things  :  give 
thyself  wholly  to  them,  that  thy  profiting  may  ap- 
pear to  all.  One  errs  who  says  *'  I  will  preach 
a  reputable  sermon  :"  and  another  errs  who 
says,  "  I  will  leave  all  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,"  while  he  has  neglected  a  dili- 
gent preparation. 

On.  Preaching  Christ. 
We  preach  Christ  crucified. — 1  Cor.  i.  23. 

CHRIST  is  God's  great  ordinance.  Nothing  ev- 
er has  been  done,  or  will  be  done  to  purpose, 
but  so  far  as  he  is  held  forth  with  simplicity. 
All  the  lines  must  centre  in  Him.  \  feel  this 
in  my  own  experience,  and  therefore  1  govern 
my  ministry  by  it :  but  then  this  is  to  be  done 
according  to  the  analogy  of  faith — not  ignorant- 
ly,  absurdly,  and  falsely.  I  doubt  not,  indeed, 
but  that  excess  on  this  side  is  less  pernicious 
than  excess  on  the  other  ;  because  God  will 
bless  His  own  especial  ordinance,  though  par- 
tially understood  and  partially  exhibited. 

THERE  are  many  weighty  reasons  for  render- 
ing Christ  prominent  in  our  ministry  : — 

1.  Christ    cheers   the  prospect.     Every   thing 
connected    with   Him    has    light   and   gladness 
thrown  round  it.     I  look  out  of  my  window  : — 
the   scene    is   scowling — dark — frigid — forbid- 
ding :  I  shudder — my  heart  is  chilled.   But,  let 
the  Sun  break  forth  from  the  cloud — I  can  feel 
— I  can  act — I  can  spring. 

2.  God  descending  and  dwelling  with  man,  is 


108  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

a  truth  so  infinitely  grand*  that  it  must  absorb  alt 
other  "  You  are  his  attendants !  Well !  but 
the  KING  !  There  he  is! — the  KING!" 

3.  Oat  of  Christ  God  is  not  intelligible,   mud 
less  amiable.     Such  men  as  Clarke  and  Aberne- 
thy  talk  sublime  nonsense.     A  sick  woman  said 
to  me — fc  Sir  !  1   have  no   notion   of  God.      I 
can  form  no   notion  of  Him.     You  talk  to  me 
about   Him,  but    1  cannot   get  a   single   idea 
that   seems   to  contain   any   thing' — fc  But  you 
know  how  to  conceive  of  Jesus  Christ  as  a 
man  !  God  comes  down  to  you  in  Him,  full  of 
kindness  and  condescension.' — '  Ah  !    Sir,  that 
gives   me  something  to    lay  hold   on.      There  I 
can  rest.     I  understand  God  in   his  Son.'     But 
if  God  is  not  intelligible  out  of  Christ,  much  less 
is  He  amiable,   though  1  ought  to  feel  Him  so. 
He  is  an  object  of  horror  and  aversion  to  me, 
corrupted  as  I  am  !    I    fear — I   tremble — I  re- 
sist— I  hate— I  rebel. 

4.  A  preacher    may  pursue   his  topic,   without 
being  led  by  it  to  Christ.      A  man  who  is  accus- 
tomed to   investigate  topics   is  in1  danger.     He 
takes  up  his  topic  and  pursues  it.     He  takes 
up  another,   and  pursues  it.     At  length  Jesus 
Christ  becomes  his  topic,  and  then  he  pursues 
that.    If  he  cannot  so  feel  and  think  as  to  bend 
all  subjects  naturally  and  gracefully  to  Christ, 
he  must  seek  his  remedy  in  selecting  such  as 
are  more  evangelical. 

5.  God  puts  peculiar  honour  on  the  preaching 
of  Christ  crucified.     A  philosopher  may  philos- 
ophize his  hearers,  but  the  preaching  of  Christ 
must   convert  them.     John   the   Baptist   will 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  109 

make  his  hearers  tremble  ;  hut,  if  the  least  in 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  greater  than  he*  let  him 
exhibit  that  peculiar  feature  of  his  superiori- 
ty— Jesus  Christ.  Men  may  preach  Christ  ig- 
norantly — blunderingly— absurdly:  yet  God  will 
give  it  efficacy,  because  he  is  determined  to 
magnify  his  own  ordinance. 

6  (jrod  seemx,  in  the  doctrine  of  tht  cross,  to 
design  the  destruction  of  man'1  s  pride.  Even  the 
murderer  and  the  adulterer  sometimes  become 
subjects  of  the  grace  of  the  Gospel,  because 
the  murderer  and  adulterer  are  more  easily 
convinced  and  humbled:  bur  the  man  of  virtue 
is  seldom  reached,  because  the  man  of  virtue 
disdains  to  descend.  Remember  me,  saved  a 
dying  malefactor  ! — God  1  thank  Thee,  condemn- 
ed a  proud  Pharisee  ! 

EVERY  minister  should  therefore  inquire,  "WHAT 

IS  FO&  ME  THE    WISEST  WAY  OF    PREACHING    CHRIST 

TO  MEN  ?"  Some  seem  to  think  that  in  the 
choise  of  a  wise  way,  there  lurks  always  a 
TRIMMING  disposition.  There  ARE  men,  doubt- 
less, who  will  sacrifice  to  Self,  even  Ckrist  Je- 
sus the  Lord:  but  they  of  ail  men,  are  farthest 
from  the  thing.  There  is  a  secret  in  doing  it, 
which  none  but  an  honest  man  can  discover. 
The  knave  is  not  half  wise  enough. 

We  are  not  to  j'ulsre  one  another  in  these 
things'.  Sufficient  it  is  to  us,  tp  ka<»;v  what  WE 
have  to  do.  There  are  different  ways  of  do- 
in^  the  same  thing,  and  that  w:th  succe^  and 
acceptance  We  see  this  in  the  apostles  them- 
selves. They  not  only  preached  Christ  in 
10* 


110  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

different  ways;  but,  what  is  more,  they  could 
not  do  this  like  one  another.  They  declare 
this  fact  themselves ;  and  acknowledge  the  grace 
of  God  in  their  respective  gifts.  Our  beloved 
brother  Paul  writes, says  St.  Peter,  according  to  the 
wisdom  given  unto  him.  But  there  are  Peters,  in 
our  days,  who  would  say — "  Paul  is  too  learn- 
ed. Away  with  these  things,  which  are  hard 
to  be  understood.  He  should  be  more  simple. 
I  dislike  all  this  reasoning."  And  there  are 
Pauls,  who  would  say,  "  Peter  is  rash  and  un- 
guarded. He  should  put  a  curb  on  his  impet- 
uosity." And  there  are  Johns,  who  would 
say,  "  They  should  both  discharge  their  office 
in  my  soft  and  winning  manner.  No  good  will 
come  of  this  fire  and  noise."  Nothing  of  this 
sort  !  Each  hath  his  proper  gift  of  God ;  one 
after  this  manner,  and  another  after  that :  and 
each  seems  only  desirous  to  occupy  faithfully 
till  his  Master  come,  leaving  his  brethren  to  stand 
or  fall  to  their  own  Master. 

Too  much  dependance  is  often  placed  on  a 
system  of  RATIONAL  CONTRIVANCE.  An  ingenious 
man  thinks  he  can  so  manage  to  preach  Christ, 
that  his  hearers  will  say — "  Here  is  nothing 
of  methodism  !  This  has  nothing  to  do  with 
that  system  !"  1  will  venture  to  say,  if  this  is 
the  sentiment  communicated  by  his  ministry, 
that  he  has  not  delivered  his  message.  The 
people  do  not  know  what  he  means,  or  he 
has  kept  back  part  of  God's  truth.  He  has 
fallen  on  a  carnal  contrivance,  to  avoid  across, 
and  he  does  no  good  to  souls.  The  WHOLE 
MESSAGE  MUST  be  delivered  j  and  it  is  better  it 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  1  1  1 

should  be  delivered  even  coarsely,  than  not  at 
all.  We  may  lay  it  down  as  a  principle — That 
if  the  Gospel  be  a  MEDICINE,  and  a  SPECIFIC  too 
— as  it  is — it  must  be  got  down  SUCH  AS  IT  is. 
Any  attempt  to  sophisticate  and  adulterate  will 
deprive  it  of  its  efficacy  :  and  will  often  recoil 
on  the  man  who  makes  the  attempt,  to  his 
shame  and  confusion.  The  Jesuits  tried  to 
render  Christianity  palatable  to  the  Chinese 
by  adulterating  it,  but  the  Jesuits  were  driven 
with  abhorrence  from  the  empire. 

If  we  have  to  deal  with  men  of  learning,  let 
us  shew  learning  so  far  as  to  demonstrate  that 
it  bears  its  testimony  to  the  truth.  But  accom- 
modation in  manner  must  often  spring  from  hu- 
mility. We  must  condescend  to  the  capacity 
of  men,  and  make  the  truth  intelligihle  to  them. 

If  this  be  our  manner  of  preaching  Christ, 
we  must  make  up  our  minds  not  to  regard  the 
little  caviller  who  will  judge  us  by  the  standard 
of  his  favorite  author  or  preacher.  We  must 
be  cautious,  too,  since  men  of  God  have  been 
and  ever  will  be  the  butt  and  scorn  of  the 
world,  of  thinking  that  we  can  escape  its 
snares  and  its  censures.  It  is  a  foolish  pro- 
ject— To  AVOID  GIVING  OFFENCE  ;  but  it  is  our 
duty,  to  avoid  giving  UNNECESSARY  offence.  It 
is  necessary  offence,  if  it  is  given  by  the  truth  ; 
but  it  is  unnecessary,  if  our  own  spirit  occa- 
sion it. 

1  have  often  thought  that  St.  Paul  was  rais- 
ed up  peculiarly  to  be  an  example  to  others, 
in  labouring  to  discover  the  wisest  way  of  ex- 
hibiting the  Gospel  ,•  not  only  that  he  was  to 


1 1  2  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

be  a  great  pattern  in  other  points,  but  design- 
edly raised  up  ibr  this  very  thing.  How  does 
ho  labor  to  make  the  truth  REASONABLY  PLAIN  ! 
How  does  he  strain  every  nerve  and  ransack 
every  corner  of  the  heart,  to  make  it  REASON- 
ABLY PALATABLE  !  We  need  not  be  instructed  in 
his  particular  meaning  when  he  says,  /  became 
all  things  to  all  men.  if  by  any  means  1  might 
save  some.  His  history  is  a  comment  on  the  de- 
claration. 

The  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ  is  a  wonder- 
ful mystery.  Some  men  think  they  preach 
Christ  gloriously  becausp  they  name  him  every 
two  minutes  in  their  sermons.  But  that  is  not 
preaching  Christ.  To  understand,  and  enter 
into,  and  open  his  various  offices  and  charac- 
ters— the  glories  of  his  person  and  work — his 
relation  to  us,  and  ours  to  Him,  and  to  God  the 
Father  and  God  the  Spirit  through  Him — this 
is  the  knowledge  of  Christ.  The  divines  of 
the  present  day  are  stunted  dwarfs  in  this 
knowledge,  compared  with  the  great  men  of 
the  last  age.  To  know  Jesus  Christ  for  our- 
selves, is  to  make  him  a  -CONSOLATION, — DE- 
LIGHT,  STRENGTH,— RIGHTEOUSNESS, COMPANION, 

— and  END. 

This  is  the  aspect  in  which  religion  should 
be  presented  to  mnnkindi.it  is  suited,  above 
nil  other,  to  produce  effect ;  and  effect  is  our  ob- 
ject. We  must  take  human  nature  as  we  find  hu- 
man nature.  We  must  take  human  nature  in 
groat  cities,  as  we  find  human  nature  in  great  cit- 
ies. We  may  say — u  THIS  or  THAT  is  th^  aspect 
which  OUGHT  to  have  most  eilect:  we  must 


REMAINS  OF  MR.   CECIL.  1 1 3 

illurpinate  the  mind  :  we  must  enlist  the  reason : 
we  must  attack  the  conscience."  We  may  do 
all  this,  and  yet  our  comparative  want  of  suc- 
cess in  begetting  and  educating  the  sons  of 
glory,  may  demonstrate  to  us  that  there  is 
some  more  effective  way  ;  and  that  sound  sense 
and  philosophy  call  on  us  to  adopt  that  way, 
BECAUSE  it  is  the  most  effective. 

Our  system  of  preaching  must  meet  man- 
kind :  they  must  find  it  POSSIBLE  to  live  in  the 
bustle  of  the  world,  and  yet  serve  God:  after 
being  worried  and  harassed  with  its  concerns, 
let  them  hear  cheering  truths  concerning 
Christ's  love  and  care  and  pity,  which  will  op- 
erate like  an  enchantment  in  dispelling  the 
cares  of  life,  and  calming  the  anxious  per- 
turbations of  conscience.  Bring  forward  pri- 
vileges and  enforce  duties,  in  their  proper  pla- 
ces and  proportions. 

Let  there  he  no  extremes  :  yet  I  am  arrived 
at  this  conviction  : — Men,  who  lean  toward  the 
extreme  of  evangelical  PRIVILEGES  in  their  min- 
istry, do  much  more  to  the  conversion  of  their 
hearers  ;  than  they  do,  who  lean  toward  the 
extreme  of  REQUIREMENT.  And  my  own  EXPERI- 
ENCE confirms  my  observation.  I  feel  myself 
repelled,  if  any  thing  chills,  loads,  or  urges 
me.  This  is  my  nature,  and  I  see  it  to  he  very 
much  the  nature  of  other  men.  But,  let  me 
hear  Son  of 'man ,  tliou  hast  played  the  harlot  with 
many  lover*  ;  yet  return  again  to  me,  sairfi  the. 
Lord— I  am  melted  and  subdued. 


1 1  4  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

On  a  Ministers  Familiar  Intercourse  with 
his  Hearers. 

WHAT  passes,  on  these  occasions,  too  often 
savours  of  this  world.  We  become  one  among 
our  hearers.  They  come  to  church  on  Sun- 
day ;  and  we  preach  :  the  week  comes  round 
again,  and  its  nonsense  with  it.  Now  if  a  min- 
ister were  what  he  should  be,  the  people 
would  feel  it.  They  would  not  attempt  to  in- 
troduce this  dawdling1,  silly,  diurnal  chat ! 
When  we  countenance  this,  it  looks  as  though, 
u  On  the  Sunday  \  am  ready  to  do  MY  business; 
and,  in  the  week,  you  may  do  YOURS/'  This 
lowers  the  tone  of  what  1  say  on  the  Sabbath. 
It  forms  a  sad  comment  on  my  preaching. 

I  have  traced,  I  think,  some  of  the  evil  that 
lies  at  the  root  of  this.  We  are  more  concern- 
ed to  be  thjaught  gentlemen,  than  to  be  felt 
as  ministers.  Now  being  desirous  to  be  thought 
a  man  who  has  kept  good  company,  strikes  at 
the  root  of  that  rough  work — the  bringing  of 
God  into  his  own  world  It  is  hard  and  rough 
•work  to  bring  God  into  his  own  world.  To 
talk  of  a  Creator,  and  Preserver,  and  Redeem- 
er, is  an  outrage  on  the  feelings  of  most  com- 
panies. 

There  is  important  truth  in  what  Mr.  Wes- 
ley said  to  his  preachers,  when  rightly  under- 
stood, however  it  may  have  been  ridiculed  : — 
u  You  have  no  more  to  do  with  being  gentle- 
men, than  dancing  masters."  The  character 
of  a  minister  is  far  beyond  that  of  a  mere  gen- 
tleman. It  takes  a  higher  walk.  He  will,  in- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  115 

deed,  study  to  be  a  real  gentleman  :  he  will  be 
the  farthest  possible  from  a  rude  man  :  he  will 
not  disdain  to  learn  nor  to  practise  the  decen- 
cies of  society:  but  he  will  sustain  a  still  high- 
er character. 

It  is  a  snare  to  a  minister  when  in  company, 
to  be  drawn  out  to  converse  largely  on  the 
state  of  the  funds,  and  on  the  news  of  the  day. 
He  should  know  the  world,  and  what  is  doing 
in  the  world,  and  should  give  things  of  this  na- 
ture their  due  place  and  proportion  ;  but  if  he 
can  be  drawn  out  to  give  twenty  opinions  on 
this  or  that  subject  of  politics  or  literature,  he 
is  lowered  in  his  tone.  A  man  of  sense  feels 
something  violent  in  the  transition  from  SUCH 
conversation  to  the  Bible  and  to  prayer. 

Dinner  visits  can  seldom  be  rendered  really 
profitable  to  the  mind.  The  company  are  so 
much  occupied,  that  little  good  is  to  be  done. 
A  minister  should  shew  his  sense  of  the  value 
of  time  :  it  is  a  sad  thing  when  those  around 
him  begin  to  yawn.  He  must  be  a  man  of 
business.  It  is  not  sufficiently  considered  how 
great  the  sin  of  idleness  is.  We  talk  in  the 
pulpit  of  the  value  of  time,  but  we  act  too  lit- 
tle on  what  we  say. 

Let  a  minister  who  declines  associating  much 
with  his  hearers,  satisfy  himself  that  he  has  a 
good  reason  for  doing  so.  If  reproached  for 
not  visiting  them  so  much  as  they  wish,  let  him 
have  a  just  reason  to  assign.  A  man  who  is  at 
work  for  his  family,  may  have  as  much  love  for 
them  as  the  wife,  though  she  is  always  with 
them. 


116  REMAINS  OE  MR.  CECIL. 

I  fell  into  a  mistake,  when  a  young-  man, 
in  thinking  that  I  could  talk  with  men  of  the 
world  on  their  own  ground,  and  could  thus  win 
them  over  to  mine.  I  was  fond  of  painting,  and 
so  talked  with  them  on  that  subject.  This  pleas- 
ed them  :  but  I  did  not  consider  that  I  gave  a 
consequence  to  their  pursuits  which  does  not 
belong  to  them ;  whereas  I  ought  to  have  en- 
deavored to  raise  them  above  these,  that  they 
might  engage  in  higher.  I  did  not  see  this  at 
the  time  :  hut  I  now  see  it  to  have  been  a  great 
error.  A  wealthy  man  builds  a  fine  house, 
and  opens  to  himself  fine  prospects  :  he  wants 
you  to  see  them,  for  he  is  sick  of  them  him- 
self. They  thus  draw  you  into  their  schemes. 
A  man  has  got  ten  thousand  pounds  :  you  con- 
gratulate him  on  it,  and  that  without  any  inti- 
mation of  his  danger  or  his  responsibility.  Now 
you  may  tell  him  in  the  pulpit  that  ricies  are 
nothing  worth;  but  you  will  tell  him  this  in 
vain,  while  you  tell  him  out  of  it  that  they  are. 

Lord  Chesterfield  says,  a  man's  character  is 
degraded  when  HE  is  TO  BE  HAD.  A  minister 
ought  never  TO  BE  HAD. 


On  a  Ministers  encouraging  Animadversion  on 

himself. 
IT  is  a  serious  inquiry  for  a  minister,  now  FAR 

HK  SHOULD  ENCOURAGE  ANIMADVERSION  ON  HIMSELF 

IN  HIS  HEARERS.  He  will  encounter  many  ignor- 
ant and  many  censorious  remarks,  but  he  may 
gain  much  on  the  whole. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  117 

He  should  lay  down  to  himself  a  few  princi- 
ples. 

It  is  better  that  a  minister  smart  than  mistake. 
It  is  better  that  a  traveller  meet  a  surly,  im- 
pertinent fellow  to  direct  him  his  way,  than 
lose  his  way.  A  minister  is  so  important  in  his 
office,  that,  whatever  others  think  of  it,  he 
should  regard  this  and  this  only  as  the  transac- 
tion for  eternity.  But  a  man  may  be  laboring 
in  the  fire :  he  may  be  turning  the  world  up- 
side down,  and  yet  be  wrong.  You  say  he 
must  read  his  Bible.  True !  but  he  must  use 
ALL  means.  He  must  build  his  usefulness  on 
this  principle — if  by  ANY  means.  If  the  wheel 
hitches,  let  him,  by  ANY  means,  discover  where 
it  hitches.  This  principle  is  to  be  worked  con- 
tinually in  his  mind.  He  must  labor  to  keep 
it  up  to  a  fine,  keen  edge.  Let  him  never  be- 
lieve that  his  view  of  himself  is  sufficient.  A 
merchant  sailing  in  quest  of  gain,  is  so  intent 
on  his  object,  that  he  will  take  a  hint  from  any 
man.  If  we  had  all  the  meaning  to  which  we 
pretend  in  our  pursuits,  we  should  feel  and  act 
like  him. 

A  minister  must  lay  it  down  also  as  a  princi- 
ple, that  he  will  never  sufficiently  understand  his 
own  pride  and  self-love  ;  and  that  confidence  in 
his  own  sense,  which  cleaves  closely  to  every  man. 
He  must  consider  this  as  the  general  malady. 
Man  is  blind  and  obstinate — poor  and  proud. 
This  silly  creature  through  ignorance  of  this 
principle,  will  not  only  not  hear  a  vulgar  hear- 
er, who  animadverts  on  him;  but  he  will  scarce- 
Iv  listen  to  a  superior  man  among  his  hearers. 
11 


1  18  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

He  attends  to  such  a  one,  because  it  would  be 
indecent  not  to  attend.  But  he  finds  some  ex- 
cuse for  himself  in  his  own  bosom  He  rever- 
ences what  is  said  very  little,  if  at  all.  He 
strokes  and  flatters  himself,  and  makes  up  the 
affair  very  well  in  his  own  mind. 

A  minister  should  consider  how  much  more 
easily  a  weak  man  can  read  a  wise  wan,  than  a 
wise  man  can  read  himself:  and  that  for  this 
reason — no  man  can  see  and  hear  himself.  He 
is  too  much  formed  in  his  own  habits — his  fam- 
ily notions — his  closet  notions — to  detect  him- 
self. He,  who  stands  by  and  sees  a  game  play- 
ed, has  vast  advantages  over  the  players. 
Besides,  preachers  err  systematically — learn- 
edly— scientifically.  The  simple  hearer  has 
an  appeal  to  nature  in  his  heart.  He  can  often 
feel  that  his  minister  is  wrong,  when  he  is  not 
able  to  set  him  right.  Dr.  Manton,  no  doubt, 
thought  he  had  preached  well,  and  as  became 
him,  before  the  Lord  Mayor ;  but  he  felt  him- 
self reproved  and  instructed,  when  a  poor  man 
pulled  him  by  the  sleeve,  and  told  him  he  had 
understood  nothing  of  his  sermon  :  there  was 
an  appeal  in  this  poor  man's  breast  to  nature : 
nature  could  not  make  any  thing  of  the  Doc- 
tor's learning.  When  Apelles  took  his  stand 
behind  his  picture,  he  was  a  wise  man  :  and  he 
was  a  wise  man  too,  when  he  altered  the  shoe 
on  the  hint  of  the  cobbler:  the  cobbler,  in  his 
place,  was  to  be  heard. 

A  minister  should  consider,  too,  that  few  will 
•venture  to  speak  to  a  public  man.  It  is  a  rare, 
thing  to  hear  a  man  say — u  Upon  my  word  that 


REMAINS  OF  MR.   CECIL.  1 1 9 

thing,  or  your  general  manner,  is  defective  or 
improper."  If  a  wise  man  says  this,  he  shews 
a  regard,  which  the  united  stock  of  five  hun- 
dred flatterers  will  not  equal.  1  would  set 
down  half  the  blunders  of  ministers  to  their  not 
listening  to  animadversion.  I  have  heard  it 
said — for  the  men,  who  would  animadvert  on 
us,  talk  among  themselves,  if  we  refuse  to  let 

them    talk    to    us 1    have    heard   it  said, 

"  Why  don't  you  talk  to  him  ?"— "  Why  don't 
you  talk  to  him  !  because  he  will  not  hear  !" 

Let  him  consider,  moreover,  that  this  aver" 
sioufrom  reproof  is  not  wise.  This  is  a  symp- 
tom of  the  disease.  Why  should  he  want  this 
hushing-up  of  the  disorder?  This  is  a  mark  of 
a  little  mind.  A  great  man  can  afford  to  lose  : 
a  little  insignificant  fellow  is  afraid  of  being 
snuffed  out. 

A  minister  mistakes  who  should  refuse  to 
read  any  anonymous  letters.  He  may,  perhaps, 
see  nothing  in  them  the  first  time  ;  but,  let  him 
read  them  again  and  again.  The  writer  raises 
his  superstructure^  probably,  on  a  slight  basis; 
yet  there  is  generally  some  sort  of  occasion. 
If  he  points  out  but  a  small  error,  yet  THAT  is 
worth  detecting. 

In  the  present  habits  of  men,  it  is  so  difficult 
to  get  them  to  tell  the  naked  truth,  that  a  min- 
ister should  shew  a  disposition  to  be  corrected  : 
he  should  shew  himself  to  be  sensible  of  the 
want  of  it.  He  is  not  to  encourage  idle  people: 
that  could  be  productive  of  no  possible  good. 

These  are  some  of  the  reasons  for  a  minis- 
ter's encouragement  in  a  judicious  manner,  of 
animadversion  on  himself  in  his  hearers. 


120  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

Sometimes,  however,  a  man  will  come  who 
appears  to  be  an  impertinent  man,  independ- 
ently of  what  he  has  to  remark — a  man  who 
is  evidently  disposed  to  be  troublesome.  Such 
a  man  came  to  me,  with — u  Sir,  you  said  such 
a  thing*  that  seemed  to  lean  to  the  doctrine  of 
universal  redemption.  Pray,  Sir,  may  1  speak 
a  little  with  you  on  that  subject  ?"  The  man- 
ner of  the  man  at  once  marked  his  character. 
He  seemed  to  bring  with  him  this  kind  of  sen- 
timent— u  I'll  go  and  set  that  man  right.  I'll 
call  that  man  to  account."  It  was  a  sort  of  de- 
mocratic insolence  of  mind.  Instead  of  answer- 
ing him  as  he  expected,  I  treated  him  as  a  child. 
I  turned  it  into  an  occasion  of  preaching  a  ser- 
mon to  him  :--u  Sir,  do  you  come  to  instruct  me, 
or  to  be  instructed?  Before  we  enter  on  a 
question  which  has  exercised  the  greatest  men, 
we  want  a  preparedness  of  mind  :  we  want  a 
deep  humility — a  teachableness — a  spirit  of 
dependence — of  which  you  seem  to  me  to 
have  but  little." 

On  the  other  hand,  a  man  may  come,  quite 
as  ignorant  as  the  other,  yet  a  simple  charac- 
ter. I  have  distressed  him.  Though  he  can- 
not, perhaps,  be  made  to  understand  what  he 
inquires  about — yet  a  minister  should  say  to 
himself,  "  Have  I  puzzled  him  ?  He  is  wounded, 
and  he  comes  for  help." 

A  minister  should  remember  that  he  is  not 
always  to  act  and  speak  authoritatively.  He 
sits  on  his  friend's  chair,  and  his  friend  says  his 
thing's  to  him  with  frankness.  They  may  want 
perhaps  a  little  decorum  ;  but  he  should  re- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  121 

«eive  them  in  the  most  friendly  and  good-.hu- 
inoured  way  in  the  world.  A  thing  strikes 
this  man  and  that  man  :  he  may  depend  on  it, 
that  it  has  some  foundation. 

Bnt  there  are  persons,  whom  a  minister 
should  more  than  encourage  to  animadvert  on 
him.  He  should  employ  them.  He  should 
explain  himself  to  them.  He  does  not  merely 
want  an  account  of  his  sermon,  but  he  employs 
them  on  business.  To  such  sensible  persons, 
he  will  say — "  What  serious  judgment  do  you 
form  of  my  preaching  ?  Do  tell  me  what  sort 
of  man  I  am." 

A  minister  has  to  treat  with  another  sort  of 
hearers — uncandid  men,  and  yet  men  of  capa- 
city :  a  sort  of  men,  who  are  not  now  pleased, 
and  then  displeased.  They  spy  a  blot  every 
where.  He  is  likely  to  make  a  mistake  with 
regard  to  such  men  : — "  What  signifies  the 
opinion  of  that  man?  That  man  can  never  be 
pleased."  True  !  that  man  cannot  be  pleased, 
but  it  does  not  follow  that  he  tells  you  no  truth. 
In  treating  with  such  a  man  he  should  say — 
His  edge  may  be  too  keen,  for  candor  and  sound 
judgment;  yet  if  it  lays  open  tome  what  I 
could  not  otherwise  see,  let  me  improve  by  its 
keenness.  What  hurt  can  he  do  to  me  ?  He 
may  damp  or  irritate  others,  by  talking  thus 
to  them  ;  but  let  me  learn  what  is  to  be  learnt 
from  him."  Such  a  man  lifts  a  minister  from 
his  standing,  where  he  settles  down  too  easily 
and  firmly.  If  I  know  a  man  to  be  of  this  class, 
I  will  distinguish:  "This  is  the  man:  but  that 
is  myself  1"  If  I  would  write  a  book  to  stand 
11* 


122  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

the  fire,  let  me  find  out  the  severest  censor. 
My  friend  is  but  half  the  man:  there  is  a  con- 
sentaneousness  of  sentiment  between  us:  we 
have  fallen  in  together,  till  we  scarcely  know 
how  to  differ  from  each  other.  Let  the  man 
come  who  says — u  Here  I  can  discover  you  to 
yourself;  and  there !"  The  best  hints  are  ob- 
tained from  snarling  people.  Medicaments 
make  the  patient  smart,  but  they  heal. 

Yet  a  minister  must  not  take  this  in  the  gross. 
He  is  not  to  invite  rude  men  round  his  door. 
If  he  suffer  his  hearers  to  treat  him  irreverent- 
ly— if  he  allow  them  to  dispute  with  him  on 
every  occasion — he  will  bring  ruin  on  the 
Church.  The  priests  lips  must  keep  knowledge. 
If  a  parent  allow  his  children  to  question  every 
thing,  so  that  nothing  is  to  be  settled  without 
a  hundred  proofs,  they  will  soon  despise  their 
teacher,  for  they  will  think  themselves  able  to 
teach  him.  The  minister  must  have  decided 
superiority  and  authority,  or  he  will  want  one 
of  the  principal  qualities  of  his  ministry.  This 
is  not  inconsistent  with  receiving  hints.  He 
may  mistake  in  some  things :  but  he  should 
mark  the  complexion  of  his  congregation  in 
deciding  how  far  they  are  to  be  heard  on  his 
mistakes.  If  the  people  are  heady,  forward, 
confident  in  their  own  sense,  they  are  never  to 
be  encouraged.  They  are  gone  too  far. 

On  the  Limits  which  a  Minister  should  put  to  the 
indulgence  of  his  curiosity  with  regard  to  Pub- 
lic Exhibitions. 

AN  extreme  is  to  be  avoided.     Some  persons 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  123 

would  condemn  even  rational  curiosity.  But 
the  -works  of  the  Lord  are  great:  sought  out  of  all 
them  that  have  pleasure  therein,  i  would  not 
object  therefore,  to  visit  the  museum  ;  or  to  go 
to  see  the  rare  natural  productions  often  exhi- 
bited. I  would  enlarge,  too,  my  views  of  man 
and  the  world,  by  frequenting  the  panoramas 
of  cities.  And  though  I  would  not  run  after 
every  sight,  yet  I  would  use  my  liberty  in  se- 
lecting. 

But  some  are  in  an  opposite  extreme.  They 
are  found  every  where.  But  he,  who  sustains 
a  character  of  a  scribe  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven , 
ought  not  to  be  found  every  where.  The  man, 
who  is  seeking  a  heavenly  country,  will  shew  the 
spirit  of  one  whose  conversation  is  there. 

There  is  something  in  religion,  when  right- 
ly apprehended,  that  is  masculine  and  grand. 
It  removes  those  little  desires,  which  are  "  the 
constant  hectic  of  a  fool." 

Every  thing  of  the  drama,  and  whatever  is 
so  distinctly  the  course  of  this  world,  must  be 
shunned.  If  a  minister  take  one  step  into  the 
world,  his  hearers  will  take  two.  Much  may 
be  learnt  from  the  sentiments  of  men  of  the 
world.  If  a  man  of  this  character  who  heard 
me  preach,  should  meet  me  where  he  would 
say,  "Why  I  did  not  expect  to  see  you  here  !" — 
then  he  ought  not  to  have  seen  me  there. 

There  must  be  measure  and  proportion  in 
our  attention  to  arts  and  sciences.  These  were 
the  very  idols  of  the  heathen  world  :  and  what 
are  THE:Y,  who  now  follow  them  with  an  idola- 
trous eagerness,  but  like  children,  who  are 


124  REMAINS  OP  MR.  CECIL* 

charmed  with  the  sparkling  of  a  rocket,. and 
yet  see  nothing  in  the  sun  ? 

Yet  I  would  not  indulge  a  cynical  temper. 
If  I  go  through  a  gentleman's  gallery  of  pictures 
I  would  say  "This  is  an  admirable  Claude  !" 
but  I  would  take  occasion  to  drop  a  hint  of 
something  higher  and  better,  and  to  make  it 
felt  that  I  fell  in  with  these  things  rather  inci- 
dentally than  purposely.  But  all  this  must  be 
done  with  tenderness  and  humility:  "I  tread 
on  the  pride  of  Plato,"  said  Diogenes,  as  he 
walked  over  Plato's  carpet :  u  Yes — and  with 
more  pride,"  said  Plato. 

"THEY  pass  best  over  the  world,"  said  queen 
Elizabeth,  "  who  trip  over  it  quickly:  for  it  is 
but  a  bog.  If  we  stop,  we  sink." 

I  would  not  make  it  my  criterion — "  Christ 
would  not  come  hither!"  /  must  take  a  lower 
standard  in  these  things.  /  am  a  poor  creature, 
and  must  be  contented  to  learn  in  many  places 
and  by  many  scenes,  which  Christ  need  not  to 
have  frequented. 

On  the  means  of  promoting  a  Spirit  of  devotion  in 

Congregations. 

LET  us  ask,  "What  is  man?"  He  is  a  crea- 
ture of  feeling,  as  well  as  of  intellect.  We  - 
must  interest  him  as  we  can.  It  is  unphilosoph- 
ical  to  depend  on  the  mere  statement  of  truth. 
No  doubt  there  is  a  contrary  error:  for  what 
is  the  end  of  exciting  attention,  if  there  is  noth- 
ing deserving  attention? 

It  is  of  the  first  importance,  to  PUT  MEANING 
into  every  part  of  the  service.  In  either  ex- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  125 

trerae,  of  appealing  to  the  understanding  or 
the  feelings,  there  may  be  no  meaning:  in  a 
dull  and  lifeless  preacher,  there  is  no  meaning  ; 
and,  in  one  of  a  contrary  character,  there  may 
be  nothing  worthy  of  the  name. 

There  is,  besides,  TOO  LITTLE  ATTENTION,  in 
many  churches,  TO  MAN  AS  MAN.  1  would  con- 
sult his  convenience  in  all  lawful  points.  If  he 
could  sit  easier  on  cushions,  he  should  have 
cushions.  I  would  not  tell  him  to  be  warm  in 
God^s  service,  while  1  leave  him  to  shiver  with 
cold.  No  doors  should  creak :  no  windows 
should  rattle. 

Music  has  an  important  effect  on  devotion. 
Wherever  fantastical  music  enters,  it  betrays 
a  corrupt  principle.  A  congregation  cannot 
enter  into  it ;  or  if  it  does,  it  cannot  be  a  Chris- 
tian congregation.  Wherever  there  is  an  at- 
tempt to  set  off  the  music  in  the  service,  and 
the  attempt  is  apparent,  it  is  the  first  step  to- 
ward carnality.  Though  there  is  too  little  life 
in  the  style  of  music  adopted  among  the  Mora- 
vians,'yet  the  simplicity  of  Christianity  per- 
vades their  devotion. 

ORDER  is  important.  Some  persons  by  com- 
ing in  when  they  please,  propagate  a  loose 
habit  of  mind.  For  man  is  a  sympathetic  crea- 
ture ;  and  what  he  sees  others  neglect,  he  is  in 
danger  of  growing  negligent  in  himself.  If 
the  reader  goes  through  the  service  as  though 
the  great  business  for  which  they  are  assem- 
bled is  not  yet  begun,  the  people  will  soon  feel 
thus  themselves. 

The  minister  should  take  occasion  frequent- 


126  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

ly  to  impress  on  the  people  the  IMPORTANCE  OF 
THE  WORK  in  which  they  are  engaged,  it  is 
not  enough  to  take  it  for  granted  that  they  feel 
this.  We  must  take  nothing  for  granted.  Man 
needs  to  be  reminded  of  every  thing,  for  he 
soon  forgets  every  thing. 

MONOTONY  must  be  above  all  things,  avoided. 
The  mind  is  vagrant:  monotony  cannot  recal 
it.  There  may  be  continued  vehemence,  while 
the  attention  is  not  excited :  it  is  disturbance 
and  noise :  there  is  nothing  to  lead  the  mind 
into  a  useful  train  of  thought  or  feeling. 

There  is  an  opposite  error  to  vehemence. 
Men  of  sense  and  literature  depress  devotion 
by  treating  things  ABSTRACTEDLY.  Simplicity, 
with  good  sense,  is  of  unspeakable  value.  Re- 
ligion must  not  be  rendered  abstract  and  curious. 
If  a  curious  remark  presents  itself,  reserve  it 
for  another  place.  The  hearer  gets  away  from 
the  bustle  and  business  of  the  week  :  he  comes 
trembling  under  his  fears :  he  would  mount  up- 
ward in  his  spirit :  but  a  curious  etymological 
disquisition  chills  and  repels  him. 

In  truth,  we  should  be  men  of  business  in 
our  congregations.  We  should  endeavor  both 
to  excite  and  instruct  our  hearers.  We  should 
render  the  service  an  interesting  affair  in  all  its 
parts.  We  should  rouse  men  :  we  should  bind 
up  the  broken-hearted :  we  should  comfort  the 
feeble  minded:  we  should  support  the  weak:  we 
should  become  all  things  to  all  men,  if  by  any 
means  we  may  save  some. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL,  127 

On  the  Marriage  of  Christian  Ministers. 
IT  seems  to  me,  that  many  men  do  not  give 
sufficient  weight  to  our  Lord's  observations  up- 
on those  who  made  themselves  eunuchs  for  the 
kingdom  of  heaven's  sake,  nor  to  St.  Paul's  rea- 
soning on  the  subject  of  marriage.  1  would 
only  imply,  that  both  our  Lord  and  the  apostle 
seem  to  establish  it  in  a  principle,  that  a  single 
state,  when  it  can  be  chosen,  and  is  chosen  for 
the  sake  of  the  gospel,  is  the  superior  state. 
This,  I  fear,  is  too  much  forgotten  ;  and  those 
men,  who  might  have  received  the  saying,  and 
have  done  more  service  to  the  church  of  God  by 
receiving  it,  have  given  it  little  or  no  weight 
in  their  deliberations. 

And  yet  it  ought  to  be  considered,  that  the 
very  character  which  would  best  fit  men  for 
living  in  a  single  state,  would  abstract  them 
too  much  from  the  feelings  and  wants  of  their 
people.  1  am  fully  sensible  that  I  should  have 
been  hardened  against  the  distresses  of  my 
hearers,  if  I  had  not  been  reduced  from  my  nat- 
ural stoicism  by  domestic  sufferings. 

The  cases,  I  allow,  are  extremely  few,  in 
which  a  man  may  do,  on  the  whole,  more  ser- 
vice to  the  church,  by  imitating  St.  Paul,  than 
by  marrying:  yet  there  are  such  cases;  and  it 
behooves  every  minister  seriously  to  consider 
himself  and  his  situation,  before  he  determines 
.  on  marriage.  He  should  not  regard  this  state 
as  indispensably  necessary  to  him,  but  should 
always  remember,  that,  caeteris  paribus,  he, 
who  remains  single  is  most  worthy  of  honor. 

But,  when  it  is  proper  that  a  minister  should 


128  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

marry,  and  he  has  determined  to  do  it,  how  few 
select  such  women  as  suit  their  high  and  holy 
character!  A  minister  is  like  a  man  who  has 
undertaken  to  traverse  the  world.  He  has  not 
only  fair  and  pleasant  ground  to  travel  over, 
but  he  must  encounter  deserts  and  marshes  and 
mountains.  The  traveller  wants  a  firm  and 
steady  stay.  His  wife  should  be  above  all 
things,  a  woman  of  faith  and  prayer — a  woman, 
too,  of  a  sound  mind  and  of  a  tender  heart — 
and  one  who  will  account  it  her  glory  to  lay 
herself  out  in  co-operating  with  her  husband 
by  meeting  his  wants  and  soothing  his  cares. 
She  should  be  his  unfailing* resource,  so  far  as 
he  ought  to  seek  this  in  the  creature.  Blessed 
is  she,  who  is  thus  qualified  and  thus  lives  ! 

But  after  all,  the  married  minister,  if  he 
would  live  devotedly,  must  move  in  a  deter- 
mined sphere.  Whatever  his  wife  may  be,  yet 
she  is  a  woman — and  if  things  are  to  go  on  well, 
they  must  have  two  separate  worlds.  There 
may,  indeed,  be  cases,  when  a  man  with  some- 
thing of  a  soft  and  feminine  cast  about  his  mind, 
may  be  united  to  a  woman  of  a  mind  so  supe- 
rior and  cultivated,  that  he  may  choose  to  make 
it  his  plan  that  they  shall  move  in  the  same 
world.  In  such  rare  cases  it  may  be  done  with 
less  inconvenience  than  in  any  other.  But, 
even  here,  the  highest  end  is  sacrificed  to  feel- 
ing. Every  man,  whatever  he  his  natural  dis- 
position, who  would  urge  his  powers  to  the 
highest  end,  must  be  a  man  of  solitary  studies. 
Some  uxorious  men  of  considerable  minds 
have  moved  so  much  in  the  women's  world, 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  129 

that  reflection,  disquisition,  and  the  energies 
of  thought  have  been  ruined  by  the  habit  of 
indulging  the  lighter,  softer,  and  more  playful 
qualities.  Such  a  man  is  indeed,  the  idol  of 
the  female  world;  but  he  would  rather  deserve 
to  be  so,  if  he  stood  upon  his  own  ground  while 
he  attempted  to  meet  their, wants,  instead  of 
descending  to  mingle  among  them. 

God  has  put  a  difference  between  the  sexes, 
but  education  and  manners  have  put  a  still 
greater.  They  are  designed  to  move  in  sep- 
arate spheres,  but  occasionally  to  unite  togeth- 
er in  order  to  soften  and  relieve  each  other. 
To  attempt  any  subversion  of  God's  design 
herein,  is  being  wiser  than  He  who  made  us : 
and  who  has  so  established  this  affair  that  each 
sex  has  its  separate  and  appropriate  excellence 
— only  to  be  attained  by  pursuing  it  in  the  or- 
der of  nature.  Thought  is  pr  ought  to  be  the 
characterizing  feature  of  the  man,  and  feeling 
that  of  the  woman. 

Every  man  and  woman  in  the  world  has  an 
appropriate  mind;  and  that  in  proportion  to 
their  strength  of  thought  and  feeling.  Each 
has  a  way  of  their  own — a  habit — a  system — a 
world — separated  and  solitary  in  which  no  per- 
son on  earth  can  have  communion  with  them. 
Job  says  of  God,  He  knoweth  the  way  that  I  take  ; 
and,  when  the  Christian  finds  a  want  of  com- 
petency in  his  bosom  friend  to  understand  and 
meet  his  way,  he  turns  with  an  especial  near- 
ness and  familiarity  of  confidence  to  God,  who 
knoweth  it  in  all  its  connexions  and  associations, 
its  peculiarities  and  its  imperfections. 
12 


130  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

I  may  be  thought  to  speak  harshly  of  the 
female  character;  but,  whatever  persuasion  I 
have  of  its  intended  distinction  from  that  of 
man,  I  esteem  a  woman,  who  aims  only  to  be 
what  God  designed  her  to  be,  as  honorable  as 
any  man  on  earth.  She  stands  not  in  the  same 
order  of  excellence,  but  she  is  equally  honour- 
able. 

But  women  have  made  themselves,  and  weak 
men  have  contributed  to  make  them,  what  God 
never  designed  them  to  be.  Let  any  thinking 
man  survey  the  female  character  as  it  now 
stands — often  nervous,  debilitated,  and  imag- 
inative, and  this  super-induced  chiefly  by  edu- 
cation and  manners — and  he  will  find  it  im- 
possible that  any  great  vigor  of  mind  can  be 
preserved,  or  any  high  intellectual  pursuits 
cultivated,  so  far  as  this  character  stands  in  his 
way. 

u  DOING  AS  OTHERS  DO,"  is  the  prevalent 
principle  of  the  present  female  character,  to 
whatever  absurd,  preposterous,  masculine,  or 
even  wicked  lengths  it  may  lead.  This  is  so 
far  as  it  avails  with  man  or  woman,  the  ruin, 
death,  and  grave  of  all  that  is  noble,  and  virtu- 
ous, and  praise-worthy. 

A  studious  man,  whose  time  is  chiefly  spent 
at  home,  and  especially  a  minister,  ought  not 
to  have  to  meet  the  imaginary  wants  of  his 
wife.  The  disorders  of  an  imaginative  mind 
are  beyond  calculation.  He  is  not  worthy  the 
name  of  a  husband,  who  will  not  with  delight 
nurse  his  wife,  with  all  possible  tenderness  and 
love,  through  a  real  visitation,  however  long ; 


REMAINS  OF  MR,.  CECIL.  131 

but  he  is  ruined,  if  he  falls  upon  a  woman  of 
a  sickly  fancy.  It  is  scarcely  to  be  calculated 
what  an  influence  the  spirit  of  his  wife  will 
have  on  his  own,  and  on  all  his  ministerial  af- 
fairs. If  she  comes  not  up  to  the  full  standard, 
she  will  so  far  impede  him,  derange  him,  un- 
sanctify  him. 

If  there  is  such  a  thing  as  GOOD  in  this  world, 
it  is  in  the  ministerial  office.  The  affairs  of 
this  employment  are  the  greatest  in  the  world. 
In  prosecuting  these  with  a  right  spirit,  the 
minister  keeps  in  motion  a  vast  machine  ;  and, 
such  are  the  incalculable  consequences  of  his 
wife's  character  to  him,  that,  if  she  assist  him 
not  in  urging  forward  the  machine,  she  will 
hang  as  a  dead  weight  upon  its  wheels. 

A  woman  may  have  a  high  taste  :  her  nat- 
ural temper  may  be  peevish  and  fretful :  she 
may  have  a  delicate  and  fastidious  mind  :  she 
may  long  for  every  thing  she  sees.  It  is  not 
enough  that  she  is.  in  reality,  a  pious  woman. 
Her  taste,  her  mind,  her  manners,  must  have 
a  decorum  and  congruity  to  her  husband's  of- 
fice and  situation.  She  must  bear  to  be  cross- 
ed in  her  wishes  for  unsuitable  objects:  he 
will  say,  with  firmness,  u  This  shall  not  be. 
It  is  not  enough,  that  it  would  gratify  you:  it 
is  wrong.  It  is  not  enough,  that  it  is  not  fla- 
grantly sinful  :  it  is  improper,  unsuitable  to  our 
character  and  station.*  It  is  not  enough  that 
money  will  buy  it,  and  I  hare  got  money  :  it 
would  be  a  culpable  use  of  our  talent.  It  is 

*  Nee,  tibiquid  liceat,  sed  quid  fecisse  decebit, 

Occurrat. —  Claudian.     J.  P. 


1  32  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL, 

not  enough  that  your  friend  possesses  such   a 
thing :  we  stand  and  fall  to  our  own  Master." 


On  Visiting  Death-beds. 

I  HAVE  found  it,  in  many  cases,  a  difficult  thing 
to  deal  with  a  DEATH-BED.  We  are  called  in 
to  death-beds  of  various  kinds  :~ 

The  true  pilgrim  sends  for  us  to  set  before 
him  the  food  on  which  he  has  fed  throughout 
his  journe}'.  He  has  a  keen  appetite.  He 
wants  strength  and  vigor  for  the  last  effort  ; 
and,  then,  all  is  for  ever  well !  He  is  gone 
home,  and  is  at  rest! 

Another  man  sends  for  us  because  it  is  de- 
tent ;  or  his  friends  importune  him  ;  or  his 
conscience  is  alarmed  :  but  he  is  ignorant  of 
sin  and  of  salvation :  he  is  either  indifferent 
about  both,  or  he  has  made  up  his  mind  in  his 
own  way  :  he  wants  the  minister  to  confirm 
him  in  his  own  views,  and  smooth  over  the 
wound.  I  have  seen  such  men  mad  with  rage, 
while  I  have  been  beating  down  their  refuges 
of  lies ,  and  setting  forth  to  them  God's  refuge. 
There  is  a  wise  and  holy  medium  to  be  obser- 
ved in  treating  such  cases  ; — u  I  atn  not  come 
to  daub  you  over  with  untempered  mortar  :  1  am 
not  come  to  send  you  to  the  bar  of  God  with  a 
lie  in  your  right-hand.  But  neither  am  I  come 
to  mortify  you,  to  put  you  to  unnecessary  pain, 
to  embitter  you,  orto  exasperate  you."  There 
is  a  kindness,  affection,  tenderness,  meekness, 
and  patience,  which  a  man's  feelings  and  con- 
science will  condemn  him  while  he  opposes ! 


REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL.  133 

I  have  found  it  a  very  effectual  method  to  be- 
gin with  myself:,  it  awakens  attention,  concili- 
ates the  mind,  and  insinuates  conviction  :• 

"Whatever  others  think  of  themselves,  I  stand 
condemned  before  God  :  rny  heart  is  so  despe- 
rately wicked,  that,  if  God  had  not  showed  me 
in  his  word  a  remedy  in  Jesus  Christ,  I  should 
be  in  despair  :  I  can  only  tell  you  what  1  am, 
and  what  I  have  found.  If  you  believe  your- 
selves to  be  what  God  has  told  me  I  am  and  all 
men  are,  then  I  can  tell  you  where  and  how- 
to  find  mercy  and  eternal  life  :  if  you  will  not 
believe  that  you  are  this  sort  of  man,  1  have 
nothing  to  offer  you.  I  know  of  nothing  else 
for  man  beside  that  which  God  has  showed 
me."  My  descriptions  of  my  own  fallen  na- 
ture have  excited  perfect  astonishment :  some- 
times my  patients  have  seemed  scarcely  able 
to  credit  me,  but  I  have  found  that  God  has 
fastened,  by  this  means,  conviction  on  the  con- 
science. In  some  cases,  an  indirect  method  of 
addressing  the  conscience  may  apparently  be, 
in  truth,  the  most  direct;  but  we  are  to  use 
this  method  wisely  and  sparingly.  It  seems  to 
me  to  be  on.e  of  the  characteristics  of  the  day, 
in  the  religious  world,  to  err  on  this  subject. 
We  have  found  out  a  CIRCUITOUS  way  of  exhib- 
iting truth.  The  plain,  direct,  simple  exhi- 
bition of  it  is  often  abandoned,  even  where  no 
circumstances  justify  and  require  a  more  in- 
sinuating manner.  There  is«dexterity  indeed, 
and  address  in  this;  but  too  little  of  the  simple 
declaration  of  the  testimony  of  God,  which  St. 
Paul  opposes  to  excellency  of  speech  or  of  wis- 


134  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

dom,  and  to  enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom. — 
We  have  done  very  little  when  we  have 
merely  persuaded  men  to  think  as  we  do. 

But  we  have  to  deal  with  a  worse  death-bed 
character,  than  with  the  man  who  opposes  the 
truth.  Some  men  assent  to  every  thing,  which 
we  propose.  They  will  even  anticipate  us. 
And  yet  we  see  that  they  mean  nothing.  I 
have  often  felt  when  with  such  persons  :  "  I 
would  they  could  be  brought  to  contradict  and 
oppose  !  That  would  lead  to  discussion.  God 
might,  peradventure,  dash  the  stony  heart  in 
pieces.  But  this  heart  is  like  water.  The 
impression  dies  as  fast  as  it  is  made."  I  have 
sought  for  such  views  as  might  rouse  and  stir 
up  opposition.  1  have  tried  to  irritate  the 
torpid  mind.  But  all  in  vain.  I  once  visited 
a  young  clergyman  of  this  character,  who  was 
seized  with  a  dangerous  illness  at  a  Coffee- 
house in  town,  whither  some  business  had 
brought  him  :  the  first  time  I  saw  him,  we  con- 
versed very  closely  together  ;  and,  in  the  pros- 
pect of  death,  he  seemed  solicitous  to  prepare 
for  it.  But  I  could  make  no  sort  of  impression 
upon  him :  all  I  could  possibly  say  met  his  en- 
tire approbation,  though  I  saw  his  heart  felt 
no  interest  in  it.  When  I  visited  him  a  second 
time,  the  fear  of  death  was  gone  :  and,  with  it, 
all  solicitude  about  religion.  He  was  still 
civil  and  grateful,  but  he  tried  to  parry  off  the 
business  on  which  he  knew  I  came.  u  I  will 
show  you,  Sir,  some  little  things  with  which  I 
have  worn  away  the  hours  of  my  confinement 
and  solitude."  He  brought  out  a  quantity  of 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  135 

pretty  and  tasty  drawings.  I  was  at  a  loss  how 
to  express,  with  suitable  force  and  delicacy, 
the  high  sense  I  felt  of  his  indecorum  and  insi- 
pidity, and  to  leave  a  deep  impression  on  his 
conscience — I  rose,  however,  instantly — said 
my  time  was  expired — wished  him  well,  and 
withdrew. 

Sometimes  we  have  a  painful  part  to  act 
with  sincere  men,  who  have  been  carried  too 
much  into  the  world.  I  was  called  in  to  visit 
such  a  man.  "  I  find  no  comfort,'?  he  said. 
u  God  veils  his  face  from  me.  Every  thing 
round  me  is  dark  and  uncertain.  I  did  not 
dare  to  act  the  flattereri  I  said — "  Let  us  look 
faithfully  into  the  state  of  things.  I  should 
have  been  surprised  if  you  had  not  felt  thus. 
I  believe  you  to  be  sincere.  Your  state  of 
feelings  evinces  your  sincerity.  Had  I  found 
you  exulting  in  God,  I  should  have  concluded 
that  you  were  either  deceived  or  a  deceiver  : 
for,  while  God  acts  in  his  usual  order,  how 
could  you  expect  to  feel  otherwise  on  the  ap- 
proach of  death,  than  you  do  feel  ?  You  have 
'driven  hard  after  the  world.  Your  spirit  has 
been  absorbed  in  its  cares.  Your  sentiment — 
your  conversation  have  been  in  the  spirit  of 
the  world.  And  have  you  any  reason  to  expect 
the  response  of  conscience,  and  the  clear  ev- 
idence which  await  the  man  who  has  walked 
and  lived  in  the  close  friendship  with  God  ! 
You  know  that  what  I  say  is  true."  His  wife 
interrupted  me,  by  assuring  me  that  he  had 
been  an  excellent  man.  u  Silence  !"  said  the 
dying  penitent,  "  it  is  all  true  !" 


136  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL. 

Soon  after  I  came  to  St.  John's  I  was  called 
on  to  visit  a  ctying  lady,  whom  1  saw  many 
times  hefore  her  death.  I  found  that  she  had 
taken  God  for  her  portion  and  rest.  She  ap- 
proached him  with  the  penitence  of  a  sinner 
grateful  for  his  provision  of  mercy  in  Christ. 
She  told  me  she  had  found  religion  in  her  Com- 
mon Prayer  Book.  She  blessed  God  that  she 
had  u always  heen  kept  steady  to  her  church; 
and  that  she  had  never  followed  the  people 
called  Methodists,  who  were  seducing  so  many 
on  all  sides."  I  thought  it  would  be  unadvise- 
able  to  attempt  the  removal  of  prejudices, 
which,  in  her  dying  case,  were  harmless,  and 
which  would  soon  be  removed  by  the  light 
which  would  beam  in  on  her  glorified  soul. 
We  had  more  interesting  subjects  of  conversa- 
tion, from  which  this  would  have  led  us  away. 
Some  persons  may  tax  her  with  a  want  of 
charity:  but,  alas !  I  fear  they  are  persons, 
who,  knowing  more  than  she  did  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  gospel,  have  so  little  of  its  divine 
charity  in  their  hearts,  that,  as  they  cannot  al- 
low for  her  prejudices,  neither  would  they 
have  been  the  last  to  stigmatize  her  as  a  dead 
formalist  and  a  pharisee.  God  knoweth  fhem 
that  are  his  ;  and  they  are  often  seen  by  him, 
where  we  see  them  not.  Were  a  benighted 
inhabitant  of  Otaheite  to  feel  the  wretchedness 
of  his  present  life,  and  lift  up  his  soul  to  the 
God  he  worshipped  as  a  Supreme  Being  for 
happiness,  no  doubt  God  would  hear  such  a 
prayer. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  137 

Miscellaneous  Remarks  on  the  Christian  Ministry. 

EVERY  book  really  worth  a  minister's  studying 
he  ought  if  possible,  to  have  in  his  own  library. 
I  have  used  large  libraries,  but  I  soon  left  them. 
Time  was  frittered  away  :  my  mind  was  un- 
concentrated.  Besides,  the  habit  which  it  be- 
gets of  turning  over  a  multitude  of  books,  is  a 
pernicious  habit.  And  the  usual  contents  of 
such  libraries  are  injurious  to  a  spiritual  man, 
whose  business  it  is  to  transact  with  men's 
minds.  They  have  a  dry,  cold/  deadening 
effect.  It  may  suit  dead  men  to  walk  among' 
the  dead ;  but  send  not  a  living  man  to  be 
chilled  among  the  ruins  of  Tadmor  in  the,  wild- 
erness ! 


CHRISTIANITY  is  so  great  and  surprising  in  its 
nature,  that,  in  preaching  it  to  others,  I  have 
no  encouragement  but  the  belief  of  a  continued 
divine  operation.  It  is  no  difficult  thing  to 
change  a  man's  opinions.  It  is  no  difficult 
thing  to  attach  a  man  to  my  person  and  no- 
tions. It  is  no  difficult  thing  to  convert  a 
proud  man  to  spiritual  pride,  or  a  passionate 
man  to  passionate  zeal  for  some  religious  party. 
But,  to  bring  a  man  to  love  God — to  love  the 
law  of  God,  while  it  condemns  him — to  loath 
himself  before  God — to  tread  the  earth  under 
his  feet — to  hunger  and  thirst  after  God  in 
Christ,  and  after  the  mind  that  was  in  Christ 
— with  man  this  is  impossible  I  But  God  has 
said  it  shall  be  done  :  and  bids  me  go  forth  and 
preach,  that  by  me  as  his  instrument,  he  may 


138  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

effect  these  great  ends ;  and  therefore  I  go. — 
Yet  I  am  obliged  continually  to  call  rny  mind 
back  to  my  principles.  I  feel  angry,  perhaps, 
with  a  man,  because  he  will  not  let  me  convert 
him  :  in  spite  of  all  I  can  say,  he  will  still  love 
the  world. 


ST.  Paul  admonishes  Timothy  to  endure  hard- 
ness as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  some- 
times falls  to  the  lot  of  a  minister  to  endure 
the  hard  labor  of  a  nurse,  in  a  greater  meas- 
ure than  that  of  a  soldier.  He  has  to  encoun- 
ter the  difficulties  of  a  peculiar  situation  :  he  is 
the  parent  of  a  family  of  children,  of  various 
tempers,  manners,  habits,  and  prejudices:  if 
he  does  not  continually  mortify  himself,  he 
will  hear  hardly  upon  some  of  his  children. — 
He  has,  however,  to  endure  the  hardness  of 
calling  his  child — his  friend — to  an  account ; 
of  being  thought  a  <*evere,  jealous,  legal  man. 
If  a  man  will  let  matters  take  theirchance,  he 
may  live  smoothly  and  quietly  enough  ;  but  if 
he  will  stir  among  the  servants,  and  sift  things 
to  the  bottom,  he  must  bear  the  consequences. 
He  must  account  himself  a  Man  of  Strife.  His 
language  must  he — "  It  is  not  enough  that  you 
feed  me,  or  fill  rnv  pocket — there  is  something 
between  me  and  thee."  The  most  tender  and 
delicate  of  his  flock  have  their  failings.  His 
warmest  and  most  zealous  supporters  break 
down  some  where.  A  sun-shiny  day  breeds 
most  reptiles.  It  is  not  enough,  therefore, 
that  the  sun  shines  out  in  his  church.  It  is  not 
enough  that  numbers  shout  applause. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  139 

A  minister  may  be  placed  in  a  discouraging 
situation.  He  may  not  suit  the  popular  taste. 
He  may  not  be  able  to  fall  into  the  fashionable 
style.  He  may  not  play  well  on  an  instrument. 
Though  an  effective  man,  and  a  man  of  energy, 
he  may  be  under  a  cloud.  The  door  may  be 
shut  against  him.  Yet  it  is  a  dangerous  thing 
for  such  a  man  to  force  open  the  door.  He 
should  rather  say — "I  have  a  lesson  to  learn 
here.  If  I  teach  the  people  nothing,  perhaps 
they  may  teach  me."  The  work  of  winter  is 
to  be  done,  as  well  as  the  work  of  summer. 

The  hardness  which  I  have  to  endure  is  this 
— Here  are  a  number  of  families,  which  show 
me  every  kind  of  regard.  But  I  see  that  they 
are  not  right.  They  somehow  so  combine  the 
things  which  they  hear,  with  the  things  which 
they  do,  that  I  am  afraid  they  will  at  last  lie 
down  in  sorrow  !  Here  is  my  difficulty.  I  must 
meet  them  with  gentleness  ;  but  I  must  detect 
and  uncover  the  evil.  I  shall  want  real  kind- 
ness and  common  honesty,  if  I  do  not. — 
Ephraim  hath  grey  hairs  ;  yet  he  knoweth  it  not. 
Ephraini  is  a  cake  not  turned.  But,  if  I  tell  him 
these  things,  he  and  I  shall  become  two  per- 
sons. He  must  however  be  so  touched  in  pri- 
vate ;  for  he  will  not  be  touched  in  the  pulpit. 
He  will  say,  1  am  not  the  man." 

A  MINISTER  must  keep  under  his  body  and  bring 
it  into  subjection.  A  Newmarket  groom  will 
sweat  himself  thin,  that  he  may  be  fit  for  his 
office  :  JVbw  they  do  it  to  obtain  a  corruptible 
crown  ;  bui  we,  an  incorruptible  ! 


140  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

is  come  from  college.  He  has  a  refined, 

accurate,  sensible  mind.  Some  of  our  friends 
wished  to  get  him  a -station  at  Calcutta.  They 
think  him  just  adapted  for  that  sphere.  I  dif- 
fer widely  in  my  view  of  the  matter.  A  new 
man,  with  his  college  accuracy  about  him,  is 
not  the  man  for  the  dissipated  and  fashionable 
court  at  Calcutta.  Such  a  congregation  will 
bid  nothing  for  his  acuteness  and  reasoning. — 
He,  who  is  to  talk  to  them  with  any  effect, 
must  have  seen  life  and  the  world.  He  must 
be  able  to  treat  with  them  on  their  own  ground. 
And  he  must  be  able  to  do  it  with  the  author- 
ity of  a  messenger  from  God,  not  with  the  arts 
and  shifts  of  human  eloquence  and  reasonings. 
Dr.  Patten  said  admirably  well,  in  a  sermon 
which  I  heard  him  preach  at  Oxford:  "Be- 
ware how  you  suffer  the  infidel  to  draw  you 
upon  metaphysical  ground.  If  he  get  you 
there,  he  will  have  something  to  say.  The 
evidences  and  the  declarations  of  God's  word 
are  the  weapon  with  which  he  must  be  com- 
batted,  and  before  which  he  must  fall." 


LONDON  is  very  peculiar  as  a  ministerial  walk. 
Almost  all  a  minister  can  do,  is  by  the  pulpit 
and  the  pen.  His  hearers  are  so  occupied  in 
the  world,  that  if  he  visit  them,  every  minute 
perhaps  brings  in  some  interruption. 


IT  is  a  serious   question — Whether  a  minister 
ought  to  preach  at  ail  beyond  his  experience.-—' 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  141 

He  is  to  stand  forth  as  a  witness — but  a  wit- 
ness of  what  he  KNOWS,  not  of  what  he  has  been 
TOLD.  He  must  preach  as  he  feels.  If  he 
feels  not  as  he  might  and  ought,  he  must  pray 
for  such  feelings  ;  but,  till  he  has  them,  ought 
he  to  pretend  to  them  ?  Going  faster  than  the 
experience  led,  has  been  the  bane  of  many. 
Men  have  preached  in  certain  terms  and 
phrases  according  to  the  tone  given  by  others, 
while  the  thing  has  never  been  made  out  even 
to  their  conviction,  much  less  in  their  expe- 
rience. 

IT  is  a  most  important  point  of  duty,  in  a  min- 
ister, TO  REDEKM  TIME.  A  young  minister  has 
sometimes  called  an  old  one  out  of  his  study, 
only  to  ask  him  how  he  did  :  there  is  a  tone  to 
be  observed  toward  such  an  idler :  an  intima- 
tion may  be  given,  which  he  will  understand, 
"  This  is  not  the  house  !"  In  order  to  redeem 
time,  he  must  refuse  to  engage  in  secular  af- 
fairs :  c/Vo  man,  that  warreth,  entangleth  himself 
with  the  affairs  of  this  life,  that  he  may  please 
Him  who  hath  chosen  him  to  be  a  soldier.  He 
must  watch,  too,  against  a  dozing  away  of  time  : 
the  clock-weight  goes  down  slowly,  yet  it  draws 
all  the  works  with  it. 

OWEN  remarks  that  it  is  not  sufficiently  consid- 
ered how  much  a  minister's  personal  religion 
is  exposed  to  danger,  from  the  very  circum- 
stance of  religion  being  his  profession  and  em- 
ployment. He  must  go  through  the  acts  of  re- 
ligion :  he  must  put  on  the  appearances  of  re- 
13 


142  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

ligion  :  he  must  utter  the  language  and  display 
the  feelings  of  religion.  It  requires  double 
diligence  and  vigilance,'  to  maintain,  under  such 
circumstances,  the  spirit  of  religion.  I  have 
prayed  :  I  have  talked  :  I  have  preached:  but 
now  I  should  perish,  after  all,  if  1  did  not  feed 
on  the  bread  which  I  have  broken  to  others. 

A     MINISTER     mUSt    CULTIVATE    a    TENDER     SPIRIT. 

If  he  does  this  so  as  to  carry  a  savor  and  unc- 
tion into  his  work,  he  will  have  far  more 
weight  than  other  men.  This  is  the  result  of 
a  devotional  habit.  To  affect  feeling  is  nause- 
ous and  soon  detected  :  but  to  feel,  is  the  read- 
iest way  to  the  hearts  of  others. 


THE  leading  defect  in  Christian  ministers  is 
want  of  a  DEVOTIONAL  HABIT.  The  church  of 
Rome  made  much  of  this  habit.  The  contests 
accompanying  and  following  the  Reformation, 
with  something  of  an  indiscriminate  enmity 
against  some  of  the  good  of  that  church  as  well 
as  the  evil,  combined  to  repress  this  spirit  in 
the  Protestant  writings ;  whereas  the  mind  of 
Christ  seems,  in  fact,  to  be  the  grand  end  of 
Christianity  in  its  operation  upon  man. 

THERE  is  a  manifest  want  of  spiritual  influence 
on  the  ministry  of  the  present  day.  I  feel  it  in 
my  own  case,  and  I  see  it  in  that  of  others.  I 
am  afraid  that  there  is  too  much  of  a  low,  man- 
aging, contriving,  maneuvering  temper  of  mind 
among  us.  We  are  laying  ourselves  out,  more 
f  han  is  expedient,  to  meet  one  man's  taste,  and 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  143 

another  man's  prejudices.  The  ministry  is  a 
grand  and  holy  affair,  and  it  should  find  in  us  a 
simple  habit  of  spirit,  and  a  holy  but  humble 
indifference  to  all  consequences. 

A  MAN  of  the  world  will  hear  to  hear  me  read 
in  the  desk  that  awful  passage  :  Wide  is  the 
gate,  and  broad  is  the  way  that  leadeih  to  destruc- 
tion y  and  many  there  be  which  go  in  thereat :  Be- 
cause strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way 
which  leadeth  unto  life ;  and  few  there  be  that 
find  it.  Nay,  he  will  approve  it : — u  The  min- 
ister is  in  the  desk :  he  is  reading  the  lesson 
of  the  day."  But  this  very  man — were  I  to 
go  home  with  him,  and  tell  him  in  his  pa/lour 
that  most  of  those  whom  he  knows  and  loves 
are  going  on  in  that  road  to  eternal  destruc- 
tion— this  very  man  would  brand  the  sentiment 
as  harsh  and  uncharitable.  Though  uttered 
by  Christ  himself,  it  is  a  declaration  as  fanati- 
cal and  uncandid,  in  the  judgment  of  the  world, 
as  could  be  put  together  in  language. 

MANY  hearers  cannot  enter  into  the  REASONS  of 
the  Cross.  They  adopt  what  I  think  is  Butler's 
grand  defect  on  this  subject.  He  speaks  of 
the  Cross  as  an  appointment  of  God,  and  THERE- 
FORE to  be  submitted  to  :  but  God  has  said 
much  in  his  word  of  the  reasons  of  this  appoint- 
ment :  that  he  might  be  just,  and  the  justifier  of 
him  that  believeth. 

SEVERAL  things  are  required,  to  enable  a  minis- 
ter to  attain  a  proper  variety  in  his  manner. 


144  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

He  must  be  in  continual  practice:  if  I  were  to 
preach  but  once  a  month,  I  should  lose  the  abil- 
ity of  preaching.  He  must  know  that  his  hear- 
ers are  attached  to  him — that  they  will  grant 
him  indulgences  and  liberties.  He  must,  m 
some  measure,  feel  himself  above  his  congre- 
gation. The  presence  of  a  certain  brother 
chills  me  ;  because  I  feel  that  I  can  talk  on  no 
one  subject  in  the  pulpit,  with  which  he  is  not 
far  better  acquainted  than  I  am. 

THE  first  duty  of  a  minister,  is,  To  call  on  his 
hearers  to  turn  to  the  Lord.  u  We  have  much 
to  speak  to  you  upon.  We  have  many  duties 
to  ur^e  on  you.  We  have  much  instruction  to 
give  you — but  all  will  be  thrown  away,  till  you 
have  turned  to  the  Lord"  Let  me  illustrate 
this  by  a  familiar  comparison.  You  see  your 
child  sinking  in  the  water  :  his  education  lies 
near  your  heart :  you  are  anxious  to  train  him 
up  so,  that  he  may  occupy  well  the  post  as- 
signed to  him  in  life.  But,  when  you  see  him 
drowning,  the  first  thoughts  are — not  how  you 
may  educate  him,  but  how  you  may  save  him. 
Restore  him  to  life,  and  then  call  that  life  into 
action. 

A  DISINTERESTED  regard  to  truth  should  be, 
what  it  very  seldom  is,  the  most  striking  char- 
acter in  a  Christian  minister.  His  purpose 
should  be  to  make  proselytes  to  truth,  and  not 
to  any  thing  which  may  be  particular  in  his 
views  of  it.  u  Read  my  books,"  says  one. — 
"  No  !  "  says  another,  u  read  mine."  And 
thus  religion  is  taken  up  by  piece-meal ;  and 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  1  45 

the  mind  is  diverted  from  its  true  nature  by 
false  associations.  If  the  teacher  whom  this 
man  has  chosen  for  his  oracle,  disgrace  religion 
by  irreligious  conduct,  he  stumbles.  He  stum- 
bles, because  he  has  not  been  fixed  upon  the 
sole  and  immoveable  basis  of  the  religion  of 
the  Bible.  The  mind,  well  instructed  in  the 
Scriptures,  can  bear  to  see  even  its  spiritual 
father  make  shipwreck  of  the  faith  and  scan- 
dalize the  gospel ;  but  will  remain  itself  un- 
moved. The  man  is  in  possession  of  a  treas- 
ure, which,  if  others  are  foolish  enough  to 
abandon,  yet  they  cannot  detract  any  thing 
from  the  value  attached  to  it  in  his  esteem. 

THAT  a  minister  may  learn  how  to  magnify  his 
office,  let  him  study  the  character,  the  spirit, 
and  the  history  of  St.  Paul.  His  life  and  death 
were  one  magnifying  of  his  office  :  mark  his 
object — to  win  souls! — to  execute  the  will  of 
God  !  As  the  man  rises  in  his  own  esteem, 
his  office  sinks ;  but,  as  the  office  rises  in  his 
view,  the  man  falls.  He  must  be  in  constant 
hostility  with  himself,  if  he  would  magnify  his 
office.  He  must  hold  himself  in  readiness  to 
make  sacrifices,  when  called  to  do  so  :  he  will 
not  barter  his  office,  like  Balaam  ;  but  will  re- 
fuse to  sell  his  service,  like  Micaiah.  Like 
Ezra  and  Nehemiah,  he  will  refuse  to  come 
down  ftvm  the  great  work  which  he  has  to  do. 
He  may  be  calumniated  ;  but  he  will  avoid 
hasty  vindications  of  his  character :  it  does 
not  appear  that  Elisha  sent  after  Naaman  to 
vindicate  himself  from  the  falsehoods  of  Ge- 
13* 


146  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL. 

hazi :  there  appears  to  me  much  true  dignity 
in  this  conduct :  I  fear  I  should  have  wanted 
patience  to  act  thus. 

SOME  young  ministers  have  been  greatly  injur- 
ed, by  taking  up  their  creed  from  a  sort  of 
second  or  third  rate  writers.  Toplady,  per- 
hapi,  has  said  that  he  has  found  his  preaching 
most  successful,  when  it  has  turned  on  the 
grand  doctrines  of  Calvinism.  A  young  man 
admires  Toplady,  and  adopts  the  same  notion 
concerning  his  own  ministry.  But  let  him  turn 
to  a  master  on  the  subject.  He  will  find  such  a 
man  as  Traill  handling  the  sovereignty  of  God, 
and  such  high  points  of  doctrine  with  a  holy 
and  heavenly  sweetness;  which,  while  it  ren- 
ders it  almost  impossible  not  to  receive  his  sen- 
timents, leaves  nothing  on  the  mind  but  a  reli- 
gious eavor. 


THE  grand  aim  of  a  minister  must  be  THE  EX- 
HIBITION OF  GOSPEL  TRUTH.  Statesmen  may 
make  the  greatest  blunders  in  the  world,  but 
that  is  not  HIS  affair.  Like  a  King's  Messenger, 
he  must  not  stop  to  take  care  of  a  person  fal- 
len down  :  if  he  can  render  any  kindness  con- 
sistently with  his  duty,  he  will  do  it  j  if  not, 
he  will  prefer  his  office. 

OUR  method  of  preaching  is  not  that«\y  which 
Christianity  was  propagated  :  yet  the  genius  of 
Christianity  is  not  changed.  There  was  noth- 
ing in  the'primitive  method  set  or  formal.  The 
primitive  bishop  stood  up,  and  read  the  gos- 
pel, or  some  other  portion  of  Scripture,  and 


pressed  on  t 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  147 


ssed  on  the  hearers,  with  great  earnestness* 
and  affection,  a  few  plain  and  forcible  truths 
evidently  resulting  from  that  portion  of  the 
Divine  Word:  we  take  a  text,  and  make  an 
oration.  Edification  was  then  the  object  of 
both  speaker  and  hearers  ;  and,  while  this  con- 
tinues (o  be  the  object,  no  better  method  can 
be  found.  A  parable,  or  history,  or  passage 
of  Scripture,  thus  illustrated  and  enforced,  is 
the  best  method  of  introducing  truth  to  any 
people  who  are  ignorant  of  it,  and  of  setting 
it  hoine  with  power  ou  those  who  know  it ; 
and  not  formal,  doctrinal,  argumentative  dis- 
courses. TRUTH  and  SIMPLICITY  are  the  soul 
of  an  efficacious  ministry. 

The  Puritans  were  still  farther  removed  from 
the  primitive  method  of  preaching  :  they  would 
preach  fifteen  or  sixteen  sermons  on  a  text. 
A  primitive  bishop  would  have  been  shocked 
with  one  of  our  sermons  ;  and,  such  is  our  taste, 
we  should  be  shocked  with  his.  They  brought 
forward  Scripture  :  we  bring  forward  our  state- 
ments. They  directed  all  their  observations 
to  throw  light  on  Scripture  :  we  quote  Scrip- 
ture to  throw  light  on  our  observations.  More 
faith  and  more  grace  would  make  us  better 
preachers,  for  out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart 
the  mouth  speaketh.  Chrysostonrs  was  the  right 
method.  Leighton's  Lectures  on  Peter  ap- 
proach v£ry  near  to  this  methed. 

IN  acting  on  matter,  the  art  of  man  is  mighty. 
The  steam-engine  is  a  mighty  machine.  But, 
in  religion,  the  art  of  man  is  mere  feebleness. 


148  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

The  armor  of  Saul  is  armor  in  the  camp  of  (he 
Israelites,  or  in  the  camp  of  the  Philistines — - 
but  we  want  the  sling-  and  the  stone.  I  hon- 
or Metaphysicians,  Logicians,  Critics,  and  His- 
torians— in  their  places.  Look  at  facts.  Men, 
who  lay  out  their  strength  in  statements,  preach 
churches  empty.  Few  men  have  a  wisdom  so 
large,  as  to  see  that  the  way  which  they  can- 
not attain  may  yet  be  the  best  way.  I  dare 
not  tell  most  academical,  logical,  frigid  men 
how  little  1  account  of  their  opinion,  concern- 
ing the  true  method  of  preaching  to  the  pop- 
ular ear.  I  hear  them  talk,  as  utterly  incom-. 
petent  judges.  Such  men  would  have  said  St. 
Paul  was  fit  only  for  the  Tabernacle.  What 
he  would  have  said  they  were  fit  for,  I  cannot 
tell.  The}'  are  often  great  men — first-rate 
men— unequalled  men — in  their  class  and  sphere: 
but  it  is  not  THEIR  sphere  to  manage  the  world. 


h?  a  minister  could  work  miracles,  he  would 
do  little  more  than  interest  the  curiosity  of 

men "  I  want  to   eat,  and  I  want  to  drink, 

and  I  do  it,  I  get  on  with  difficulty  enough,  as 
things  are  ;  and  you  talk  about  treating  with 
heaven  !  I  know  nothing  of  the  matter,  and  I 
want  no  such  thing"1' — This  is  the  language  of 
man's  heart.  A  FUTURE  thing  !  An  INDEFIN- 
ITELY FUTUKE  thing  !  No!  if  a  man  could  even 
authoritatively  declare,  that  the  day  of  jurfg- 
ni^nt  would  he  this  day  seven  years,  he  would 
have  little  influence  on  mankind.  Very  few 
would  be  driven  from  the  play-house — very 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  149 

few  from  the  gaming-table — very  few  from  the 
brothel. — The  dm  on  'Change  would  be  very 
little  diminished.  1  frequently  look  back  on 
the  early  periods  of  my  life,  and  imagine  my- 
self treating  with  such  a  character  as  1  know 
I  then  was.  I  say  to  myself,  "  What  now  can 
I  possibly  say,  that  will  affect  and  interest  that 
'young  fellow  of  eighteen?" 

SOME  Christian  ministers  fail  in  their  effect  on 
their  hearers,  by  not  entering  as  Philosophers 
into  the  state  of  human  nature.  They  do  not 
consider  how  low  the  patient  is  reduced — that 
he  is  to  be  treated  more  as  a  child — that  he  is 
to  have  milk  administered  to  him,  instead  of 
strong  meat.  They  set  themselves  to  plant 
principles  and  prove  points,  when  they  should 
labor  to  interest  the  heart  But,  after  all,  men 
will  carry  their  natural  character  into  their 
ministry.  If  a  man  has  a  dry,  logical,  scholas- 
tic turn  of  mmd,  we  shall  rarely  find  him  an 
interesting  preacher.  One  in  a  thousand  may 
meet  him,  but  not  more. 

THE  Christian  will  sometimes  be  brought  to 
walk  in  a  solitary  path.  God  seems  to  cut 
away  his  props,  That  he  may  reduce  him  to 
himself.  His  religion  is  to  be  felt  as  a  person- 
al, particular,  appropriate  possession.  He  is 
to  feel,  that,  as  there  is  but  one  Jehovah  to 
bless,  so  there  seems  to  him  as  though  there 
were  but  one  penitent  in  the  universe  to  be 
blessed  by  Him.  Mary  Magdelene  at  the  sepul- 
chre was  brought  to  this  state.  She  might 


150  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

have  said,  u  I  know  not  where  Peter  is  :  he  is 
gone  away — perhaps  into  the  world — perhaps 
to  weep  over  his  fall.     1  know  not  where  John 
is.     What  are  the  feelings  and  states   of  my 
brethren,  I  know  not.     I  am  left  here  alone. 
No  one  accompanies  and  strengthens  me.    But 
if  none  other  will  seek  my  Lord,  yet  will   I 
seek   him  !"     There  is  a  commanding1  energy 
in  religious  sympathy.     A  minister,  for  exam- 
ple, while  his  preaching  seems   effective,  and 
life  and  feeling  shew  themselves  around  him, 
moves  on  with  ease  and  pleasure.     But  there 
is  much  of  the  man  here.     If  God  change  the 
scene — if   discouragements  meet  him — if  he 
seem  to  be  laid  by,  in   any  measure,  as  an  in- 
strument— if  the  love  of  his  hearers  to  his  per- 
son and  ministry  decay — this  is  a  severe  trial : 
yet  most  of  us  need  this  trial,  that  we  may  be 
reduced  simply  to   God,  and  may  feel  that  the 
whole  affair  is  between    Him  and   ourselves. 
A  dead  fish  will  swim  with   the  stream,  what- 
ever he  its  direction  :  But  a  living  one  will  not 
only  resist  the   stream  :  but,   if  it   chooses,  it 
can  swim  against  it.     The  soul,  that  lives  from 
God,  will  seek  God,   and   follow  God — more 
easily  and    pleasantly,   indeed,  if  the   stream 
flow  toward  the  point  whither  God  leads  ;  hut, 
still,  it  will  follow  God  as  its  sole  rest  and  cen- 
tre, though  the  stream   of  men  and   opinions 
would  hurry  it  away  from  him. 


GRAVITY  is,  doubtless,  obligatory  on  ministers. 
The  apostle  connects  it  with  simplicity.     Yet 


I 


REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECIL.  151 


must  be  natural — not  affected.     Some   men 
give    every  thing    in   an   oracular  style  :  this 
looks  like  affectation,  and  will  disgust  others: 
they  will  attribute   it  to   religion  :   but  this  is 
not  a  sanctified  gravity.    Other  men  are  always 
disposed  to  levity  :  not  that  a  man  of  original 
fancy  is  to  be  condemned,  for  thinking  in   his 
own  way  :  but  the  minister  must  consider  that 
he  is  a  man  of  a  consecrated  character:  if  it 
should  not  be  difficult  to  himself  to  make  trans- 
itions from  levity  to  gravity,  it  will  be  difficult 
to  carry  others  with   him  therein.     Who  has 
not  felt,  if  God  brings  him  into  a  trying  situa- 
tion, in  which  he  sees  that  it  is  an  awful  thing 
to  suffer  or  to  die,  that  gravity  is  then  natural  ? 
every   thing  else  is   offensive  !     That,  too,  is 
evil,  which  lets  clown  the  tone  of  a  company: 
when  a  minister  loses  his  gravity,  the  company 
will  take  liberties  with  him.     Yet,  with  a  right 
principle,  we  must  not  play  the  fool.     Gravity 
must  be  natural  and  simple.     There  must  be 
urbanity  and  tenderness  in  it.     A  man  must  not 
formalize  on   every  thing.     He,  who   formal- 
izes on  every  thing,  is  a  fool  :  and   a  grave 
fool  is  perhaps  more  injurious  than    a   light 
fool. 


WE  are  called  to  build  a  spiritual  house.  One 
workman  is  not  to  busy  himself  in  telling  anoth- 
er his  duty.  We  are  placed  in  different  circum- 
stances, with  various  talents  :  and  each  is  call- 
ed to  do  what  he  can.  Two  men,  equally  ac- 
cepted of  God,  may  be  exceedingly  distinct  in 
the  account  which  they  will  give  of  their  em- 
ploy. 


152  REMAINS    OF  MR.  CECIL. 

A  REGULAR  clergyman  can  do  no  more  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duty,  than  our  church  requires 
©f  him.  He  may  fall  far  short  of  her  require- 
ments ;  but  he  cannot  exceed,  by  the  most  de- 
voted life,  the  duties  which  he  has  prescribed. 
What  man  on  earth  is  so  pernicious  a  drone, 
as  an  idle  clergyman! — a  man,  engaged  in  the 
most  serious  profession  in  the  world  :  who  rises 
to  eat,  and  drink,  and  lounge,  and  trifle :  and 
goes  to  bed  ;  and  then  rises  again,  to  do  the 
same  !  Our  office  is  the  most  laborious  in  the 
world.  The  mind  must  be  always  on  the  stretch, 
to  acquire  wisdom  and  grace,  and  to  communi- 
cate them  to  all  who  come  near.  It  is  well, 
indeed,  when  a  clergyman  of  genius  and  learn- 
ing devotes  himself  to  the  publication  of  clas- 
sics and  works  of  literature,  if  he  cannot  be 
prevailed  on  to  turn  his  genius  and  learning 
to  a  more  important  end.  Enter  into  this  kind 
of  society,  what  do  you  hear? — u  Have,  you 
seen  the  new  edition  of  Sophocles?" — "  No! 
is  anew  edition  of  Sophocles  undertaken?" — 
and  this  makes  up  the  conversation,  and  these 
are  the  ends  of  men  who,  by  profession,  should 
win  souls  !  I  received  a  most  useful  hint  from 
Dr.  Bacon,  then  Father  of  the  University,  when 
I  was  at  College.  I  used  frequently  to  visit 
him  at  his  Living  near  Oxford  :  he  would  say 
to  me,  "  What  are  you  doing  ?  What  are  your 
studies  ?" — "  1  am  reading  so  and  so." — u  You 
are  quite  wrong.  When  I  was  young  I  could 
turn  any  piece  of  Hebrew  into  Greek  verse 
with  ease.  But,  when  I  came  into  this  parish, 
and  had  to  teach  ignorant  people,  I  was  wholly 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  1  53 

at  a  loss;  I  had  no  furniture.  They  thought 
me  a  great  man,  but  that  was  their  ignorance ; 
for  I  knew  as  little  as  they  did,  of  what  it  was 
most  important  to  them  to  know.  Study  chief- 
ly what  you  can  turn  to  good  account  in  your 
future  life."  And  yet  this  wise  man  had  not 
just  views  of  serious  religion  :  he  was  one  of 

those  who  are  for  reforming  the   parish 

making  the  maids  industrious,  and  the  men 
sober  and  honest — but  when  I  ventured  to  ask, 
"  Sir,  must  not  all  this  be  effected  by  the  infu- 
sion of* a  divine  principle  into  the  mind? — a 
union  of  the  soul  with  the  great  head  of  influ- 
ence ?" — "No  more  of  that;  no  more  of  that 
I  pray  !" 

A  WISE  minister  stands  between  practical  Athe- 
ism and  Religious  enthusiasm. 

A  SERMON,  that  has  more  head  infused  into  it  than 
heart,  will  not  come  home  with  efficacy  to  the 
hearers.  "  You  must  do  so  and  so  :  such  and 
such  consequences  will  follow  if  you  do  not: 
such  and  such  advantages  will  result  from  do- 
ing it :" — this  is  cold,  dead,  and  spiritless,  when 
it  stands  alone  ;  or  even  when  it  is  most  prom- 
inent. Let  the  preacher's  head  be  stored  with 
wisdom ;  but,  above  all,  let  his  heart  so  feel 
his  subject,  that  he  may  infuse  life  and  interest 
into  it,  by  speaking  like  one  who  actually  pos- 
sesses and  feels  what  he  says. 

FAITH  is  the  master-spring  of  a  minister.    "  Hell 
is  before  me,  and  thousands  of  souls  shut  up 
14 


154  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

there  in  everlasting  agonies — Jesus  Christ 
stands  forth  to  save  men  from  rushing  into  this 
bottomless  abyss — He  sends  me  to  proclaim  his 
ability  and  his  love  :  I  want  no  fourth  idea ! — 
every  fourth  idea  is  contemptible! — every  fourth 
idea  is  a  grand  impertinence  !•" 

THE  meanness  of  the  earthen  vessel,  which 
conveys  to  others  the  Gospel  treasure,  takes 
nothing'  from  the  value  of  the  treasure.  A  dy- 
ing hand  may  sign  a  deed  of  gift  of  incalculable 
value.  A  shepherd's  boy  may  point  out  the 
way  to  a  philosopher.  A  beggar  may  be  the 
bearer  of  an  invaluable  present. 


A  WRITER  of  Sermons  has  often  no  idea  how 
many  words  he  uses,  to  which  the  common 
people  affix  either  no  meaning,  or  a  false  one. 
He  speaks,  perhaps,  of  u relation  to  God;'" 
but  the  people,  who  hear  him,  affix  no  other 
idea  to  the  word,  than  that  of  father,  or  broth- 
er, or  relative.  The  preacher  must  converse 
with  the  people,  that  he  may  acquire  Iheir 
words  and  phrases. 

IT  sometimes  pleases  God  to  disqualify  ministers 
for  their  work,  before  he  takes  them  to  their 
reward.  Where  he  gives  them  wisdom  to  per- 
ceive this,  and  grace  to  acquiesce  in  the  dis- 
pensation— such  a  close  of  an  honorable  life, 
where  the  desire  to  be  publicly  useful  survives 
the  power,  is  a  loud  AMEN  to  all  former  labors. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  155 

On  Infidelity  and  Popery. 

INFIDEL  writing's  are  ultimately  productive  of 
little  or  no  clanger  to  the  church  of  God.  Nay 
we  are  less  at  a  loss  in  judging-  of  the  wisdom 
of  Providence  in  permitting  them,  than  we  are 
in  judging-  of  many  other  of  its  designs.  They 
may  shake  the  simple,  humble,  spiritual  mind  ; 
but  they  are,  in  the  end,  the  means  of  enlight- 
ening and  settling  it. 

There  are  but  two  sorts  of  people  in  the 
world.  Some  walk  by  the  Light  of  the  Lord,  and 
all  others  lie  in  the  wicked  one  in  darkness  and 
in  the  shadow  of  death.  Where  there  is  not  an 
enlightened,  simple,  humble,  spiritual  mind, 
notions  and  opinions  are  of  little  consequence. 
The  impudent  and  refuted  misrepresentations 
of  infidels  may  turn  a  dark  mind  to  some  other 
notions  and  way  of  thinking ;  but  it  is  in  the 
dark  still.  Till  a  man  sees  by  the  light  of  the 
Lord,  every  change  of  opinions  is  only  putting 
a  new  dress  on  a  dead  carcase,  and  calling  it 
alive. 

The  grace  of  God  must  give  simplicity. 
Wherever  that  is,  it  is  a  security  against  dan- 
gerous error:  wherever  it  is  not,  erroneous 
opinions  may  perhaps  less  predispose  the  mind 
against  the  truth  of  God  in  its  lively  power  on 
the  soul,  than  true  notions  destitute  of  all  life 
and  influence  do. 

Yet  the  writings  of  infidels  must  be  rpad 
with  caution  and  fear.  There  are  cold,  intel- 
lectual, speculative,  malignant  foes  to  Chris- 
tianity. I  dare  not  tamper  with  such,  when  I 
am  in  my  right  mind.  1  have  received  serious 


156  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

injury,  for  a  time,  even  when  my  duty  has  cal- 
led me  to  read  what  they  have  to  say.  The 
daring  impiety  of  Belsham's  answer  to  Wilber- 
force  ruffled  the  calm  of  my  spirit.  I  read  it 
over  while  at  Bath,  in  the  Autumn,  of  1798. 
I  waked  in  pain,  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing. I  tried  to  cheer  myself  by  an  exercise  of 
faith  on  Jesus  Christ.  1  lifted  up  my  heart  to 
Him,  as  sympathizing  with  me  and  engaged  to 
support  me.  Many  times  have  1  thus  obtained 
qui<h  and  repose  :  but  now  1  could  lay  no  hold 
on  him  :  1  had  given  the  enemy  an  advantage 
over  me  :  my  habit  had  imbibed  poison  :  my 
nerves  trembled  !  my  strength  was  gone  ! — 
u  Jesus  Christ  sympathize  with  you,  and  relieve 
you!  It  is  all  enthusiasm  !  It  is  idolatry  !  Jesus 
Christ  has  preached  his  sermons,  and  done  his 
duty,  and  is  gone  to  heaven  !  And  there  he  is.  as 
other  good  men  are  !  Address  your  prayers  to 
the  Supreme  Being !" — I  obtain  relief  in  such 
cases,  by  dismissing  from  my  thoughts  all  that 
enemies  or  friends  can -say.  I  will  have  nothing 
to  do  with  Belsham  or  with  Wilberforce.  I  come 
to  Christ  Himself.  1  hear  what  He  says.  I  turn 
over  the  gospels.  I  read  his  conversations.  I 
dwell  especially  on  his  farewell  discourse  with 
his  disciples,  in  St.  John's  Gospel.  If  there  be 
meaning  in  words,  and  if  Christ  were  not  a  de- 
ceiver or  deceived,  the  reality  of  the  Chris- 
tian's life,  in  Him  and  from  Him  by  faith,  is 
written  there  as  with  a  sun-beam. 

This  temptation  besets  me  to  this  day,  and 
I  know  not  that  I  have  any  other  which  is  so 
particular  in  its  attacks  upon  me.  I  am  some- 
times restless  in  bed ;  and,  when  I  find  myself 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  1  57 

so,  I  generally  think  that  the  parenthesis  can- 
not be  so  well  employed  as  in  prayer.  While 
my  mind  is  thus  ascending  to  Christ  and  com- 
muning with  him,  it  often  comes  across  me — 
"  What  a  fool  art  thou,  to  imagine  these  men- 
tal effusions  can  be  known  to  any  other  Being  ! 
what  a  senseless  enthusiast,  to  imagine  that  the 
man  who  was  nailed  to  a  cross  can  have  any 
knowledge  of  these  secrets  of  thy  soul !"  On 
one  of  these  occasions  it  struck  me  with  great 
and  commanding  evidence. — "  Why  might  not 
St.  John,  in  the  Isle  of  Patmos — imprisoned 
perhaps  in  a  cave — why  might  not  he  have 
said  so?  Why  might  not  he  have  doubted  wheth- 
er Christ  the  crucified  could  have  knowledge 
of  his  feelings,  when  he  was  in  the  Spirit  on  the 
Lord's  day  ?  He  had  no  doubt  communion  with 
Christ  in  the  Spirit,  before  he  had  those  palpa- 
ble evidences  of  his  presence  which  immediate- 
ly followed." 

IN  the  pernv^sion  of  certain  bold  infidel  char- 
acters and  writings,  we  may  discern  plain  evi- 
dences of  that  awful  system  of  judicial  govern- 
ment, with  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  rule 
the  world.  Where  there  is  a  moral  indisposi- 
tion, where  men  are  inclined  to  be  deceived, 
where  they  are  waiting  as  it  were  for  a  leader 
— there  he  sends  such  men  or  such  writings,  as 
harden  them  in  their  impiety :  while  a  teach- 
able and  humble  mind  will  discern  the  true 
character  of  such  men  or  writings,  and  escape 
the  danger. 

I  can  conceive  a  character  much  more  per- 
14* 


158  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

nicious  in  its  influence,  than  the  daring1  and  im- 
pudent infidel.  A  man — in  the  estimation  of 
all  the  world  modest,  amiable,  benevolent — 
who  should,  with  deep  concern,  lament  the 
obligation  under  which  he  feels  himself  to  de- 
part from  «£he  religion  of  Europe,  the  religion 
of  his  country,  the  religion  of  his  family  ;  and 
should  profess  his  unfeigned  desire  to  find  this 
religion  true,  but  that  he  cannot  possibly  bring 
his  mind  to  believe  it,  and  that  for  such  and 
such  reasons:  when  he  should  thus  introduce 
all  the  strongest  points  that  can  be  urged  on 
the  subject. 

But  God  governs  the  world.  It  is  not  in  his 
design  to  permit  such  men  to  arise.  The  in- 
fidel has  always  had  something  about  him, 
which  has  ascertained  his  obliquity  to  the  eye, 
that  has  not  been  dimmed  by  the  moral  indis- 
position of  the  heart. 

THE  low  and  scurrilous  writers  against  Reve- 
lation carry  their  own  condemnation  with  them. 
They  are  like  an  ill-looking  fellow,  who  comes 
into  a  Court  of  Justice  to  give  evidence,  but 
carries  the  aspect,  on  the  first  glance,  of  a 
town- bully,  ready  to  swear  whatever  shall  be 
suggested  to  him. 

BURKE  has  painted  the  spirit  of  Democracy  to 
the  life.  I  have  fallen  in  with  some  Demo- 
crats, who  knew  nothing  of  me.  They  have 
been  subjects  of  great  curiosity;  when  1  could 
forget  the  horrid  display  of  sin  that  was  before 
rae.  I  saw  a  malignant  eye — a  ferocity — an 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  159 

intensity  of  mind  on  their  point.  Viewed  in  its 
temper  and  tendencies,  Jacobinism  is  Devilism 
— Belialism.  It  takes  the  yoke  of  God  and 
man — puts  it  on  the  ground — and  stamps  on  it. 
Every  man  is  called  out  into  exertion  against 
it.  It  is  an  inveterate,  malignant,  blaspheming, 
atheistical,  fierce  spirit.  It  seems  a  toss  up 
with  these  men,  whether  Satan  himself  shall 
govern  the  world.  Before  such  men,  I  say  not 
a  word.  Our  Master  has  commanded  us  not  to 
cast  pearls  before  swine.  I  am  vastly  delighted 
with  character — true  and  original  character : 
but  this  is  an  awful  and  affecting  display  of  it. 

THE  church  has  endured  a  PAGAN  and  a  PAPAL 
persecution.  There  remains  for  her  an  INFI- 
DEL persecution — general,  bitter,  purifying,  ce- 
menting. 

IT  is,  perhaps,  impossible,  in  the  very  nature 
of  things,  that  such  another  scheme  as  Popery 
could  be  invented.  It  is  in  truth,  the  mystery 
of  iniquity  ;  that  it  should  be  able  to  work  it- 
self into  the  simple,  grand,  sublime,  holy  insti- 
tution of  Christianity,  and  so  to  interweave  its 
abominations  with  the  truth,  as  to  occupy  the 
strongest  passions  of  the  soul,  and  to  control 
the  strongest  understandings!  While  Pascal 
can  speak  of  Popery  as  he  does,  its  inlluence 
over  the  mass  of  the  people  can  excite  no  sur- 
prise. Those  two  master  principles — That  we 
must  believe  as  the  church  ordains,  and  That 
(here  is  no  salvation  out  of  this  church — oppose, 


160  REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECIL. 

in  the  ignorance  and  fear  which  they  beget,  an 
almost  insuperable  barrier  against  the  truth. 

I  HAVE  not  such  expectations  of  a  Millennium 
as  many  entertain:  yet  I  believe  that  the  fig- 
ures and  expressions  of  prophecy  have  never 
received  their  accomplishment.  They  are  too 
grand  and  ample,  to  have  been  fulfilled  by  any 
state,  which  the  church  has  hitherto  seen. 
Christianity  has  yet  had  no  face  suitable  to  its 
dignity.  It  has  savored  hitherto  too  much  of 
man — of  his  institutions — of  his  prejudices — of 
his  follies — of  his  sin.  It  must  be  drawn  out 
— depicted — exhibited — demonstrated  to  the 
world.  Its  chief  enemies  have  been  the  men 
by  whom,  under  the  professions  of  Hail,  Mas- 
ter !  it  has  been  distorted,  abused,  and  vilified. 

Popery  was  the  master-piece  of  Satan.  I 
believe  him  utterly  incapable  of  such  another 
contrivance.  It  was  a  systematic  and  infallible 
plan,  for  forming  manacles  and  mufflers  for  the 
human  mind.  It  was  a  well  laid  design  to  ren- 
der Christianity  contemptible,  by  the  abuse  of 
its  principles  and  its  institutions.  It  was  form- 
ed to  overwhelm — to  enchant — to  sit  as  the 
great  whore^  making  the  earth  drunk  with  her 
fornications. 

The  infidel  conspiracy  approaches  nearest 
to  Popery.  But  infidelity  is  a  suicide.  It  dies 
by  its  own  malignity.  It  is  known  and  read  of 
all  men.  No  man  was  ever  injured  essentially 
by  it,  who  was  fortified  with  a  small  portion  of 
the  genuine  spirit  of  Christianit}' — its  contrition 
and  its  docility.  Nor  is  it  one  in  its  efforts : 


REMAINS    OF   MR.    CECIL.  161 

end  is  one  ;  but  its  means  are  disjointed, 
various,  and  often  clashing.  Popery  debases 
and  alloys  Christianity  ;  bat  infidelity  is  a  fur- 
nace, wherein  it  is  purified  and  refined.  The 
injuries  done  to  it  by  Popery,  will  be  repaired 
by  the  very  attacks  of  infidelity. 

In  the  mean  time,  Christianity  wears  an  en- 
chanting form  to  all,  who  can  penetrate  through 
the  mists  thrown  round  it  by  its  false  friends 
and  its  avowed  foes.  The  exiled  French  Priest 
raises  the  pity  and  indignation  of  all  Christians, 
while  he  describes  the  infernal  plots  of  the 
infidel  canspirators  against  Christianity,  and 
shews  th^m  in  successful  operation  against  his 
church.*  We  seem,  for  a  while,  to  forget  her 
errors :  and  we  view  her,  for  the  moment, 
only  so  far  a*  she  possesses  Christianity  in  com- 
mon with  ourselves.  But  when  he  charges 
the  origin  of  this  infidel  conspiracy  on  the  prin- 
ciples asserted  by  the  Waldenses  or  the  church 
of  Geneva,  the  enchantment  dissolves.  We 
see  that  he  is  under  the  influence  of  a  sophism : 
by  which,  having  imposed  upon  himself,  he 
would  impose  upon  others.  With  him,  Chris- 
tianity and  his  church  mean  one  and  the  same 
thing.  A  separation  from  his  church,  is  a  sep- 
aration from  Christianity ;  and  proceeds  on 
principles  which  lead  necessarily,  if  pursued 
to  their  issues,  to  every  abomination  of  infidel- 
ity. But  let  him  know  that  the  church  of 
Geneva  protested  against  the  false  friend  of 
Christianity  ;  and  that,  if  the  avowed  enemy  of 
Chrsitianity  had  then  elevated  himself,  she 

*  Alluding  to  BarruePs  Memoirs  of  Jacobinism,  J.  P, 


162  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL. 

would  have  protested  with  equal  zeal  against 
HIM.  Let  him  know,  that,  if  his  church  had 
listened  to  the  voice  of  the  reformer,  the  enemy 
of  Christianity  would  have  wanted  ground  for 
footing  to  his  attacks.  The  Papist  falsely 
charges  the  Reformer  as  the  father  of  infidel- 
ity :  the  infidel  maliciously  confounds  Popery 
and  Christianity  :  but  the  true  Christian  is  as 
far  from  the  licentiousness  of  the  infidel,  as  he 
is  from  the  corruption  of  the  Papist. 

I  am  not  inclined  to  view  things  in  a  gloomy 
aspect.  Christianity  must  undergo  a  renova- 
tion. If  God  has  sent  his  Son,  and  has  declar- 
ed that  he  will  exalt  him  on  his  throne — the 
earth  and  all  that  it  inherits  are  contemptible 
in  the  view  of  such  a  plan  !  If  this  be  God's 
design — proceed  it  does,  and  proceed  it  will. 
Christianity  is  such  a  holy  and  spiritual  affair, 
that  perhaps  all  human  institutions  are  to  be 
destroyed  to  make  way  for  it.  Men  may  fash- 
ion things  as  they  will  ;  but,  if  there  is  no  effu- 
sion of  the  Spirit  of  God  on  their  institutions, 
they  will  remain  barren  and  lifeless.  Many 
Christians  appear  to  have  forgotten  this. 

On  a  Christianas  duty  in  these  eventful  times. 

OURS  is  a  period  of  no  common  kind.  The  path 
of  duty  to  a  Christian  is  now  unusually  difficult. 
It  seems  to  me,  however,  to  be  comprehended 
in  two  words — BE  QUIET  and  USEFUL.  The  pre- 
cept is  short ;  but  the  application  of  it  requires 
much  grace  and  wisdom.  Take  not  a  single 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  163 

out  of  a  quiet  obscurity,  to  which  you  arc 
not  compelled  by  a  sense  of  utility. 

Two  parties,  have  divided  the  world. 

The  JACOBINS  are  desperadoes  :— the  earth's 
torment  and  plague.  Bishop  Horsley  said  well 
of  them,  lately  from  the  pulpit — "  These  are 
they,  who  have  poisoned  Watts's  Hymns  for 
Children.  These  are  they,  who  are  making 
efforts  to  contaminate  every  means  of  access 
to  the  public  mind.  And  what  is  their  aim  ? — 
What  are  their  pretensions? — That  they  will 
have  neither  Lord  nor  King  over  them.  But, 
verily,  one  is  their  King: — whose  name,  in  the 
Hebrew  tongue  is  Maddon  ;  but,  in  the  Greek 
tongue,  he  is  called  Apollyon  ;  and  in  plain  Eng- 
lish— fc  The  Devil?  My  soul,  come  not  thou 
near  the  tents  of  these  wicked  men  !" 

"  But  the  ANTIJACOBINS  ?"  Their  project,  as 
a  body,  leaves  God  out  of  the  question.  Their 
proposal  is  unholy.  I  cannot  be  insensible  to 
the  security,  order,  and  liberty,  with  which 
these  kingdoms  are  favoured  above  all  other 
nations;  but  1  cannot  go  forth  with  these  men, 
as  one  of  their  party.  I  cannot  throw  up  my 
hat,  and  shout  "  Huzza  1"  Woe  to  the  world, 
if  even  THEY  prevail ! 

The  world  is  a  lying,  empty  pageant ;  and 
these  men  are  ensnared  with  the  show.  My 
part  in  it,  as  a  Christian,  is  to  act  with  simplic- 
ity as  the  servant  of  God.  What  does  God  bid 
me  do  ?  What,  in  this  minute  of  time,  which 
will  be  gone  and  carry  me  with  it  into  eterni- 
ty— what  is  my  path  of  duty  ?  While  enemies 
blaspheme,  and  friends  are  beguiled,  let  me 


164  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

stand  on  my  watch-tower  with  the  Prophet,  /w- 
tening  what  the  Lord  God  shall  say  to  me.  Jn 
any  scheme  of  man  I  dare  not  be  drunken. 
We,  who  are  of  the  day,  must  be  sober.  Church- 
man or  Dissenter,  if  1  am  a  true  Christian,  I 
shall  talk  thus  to  my  connexions.  The  sen- 
timent of  the  multitude  is  ensnaring:  but  the 
multitude  is  generally  wrong.  1  must  beware 
of  the  contagion.  Not  that  I  am  to  push  my- 
self into  consequence.  The  matter  is  between 
me  arid  my  God — Not*  one  step  out  of  a  holy 
quiet  and  obscurity,  but  in  order  to  utility. 

Yet  we  must  be  active  and  bold,  whenever 
duty  calls  us  to  be  so.  My  own  conduct,  with 
respect  to  the  religious  world,  is  too  much  form- 
ed on  my  feelings.  I  see  it  in  what  I  deem  a 
lamentable  state  ;  but  I  seem  to  say  u  Well ! 
go  on  talking,  and  mistaking,  and  making  a 
noise  :  only  make  not  a  noise  here  :"  and  then 
I  retire  into  my  closet,  and  shrink  within  my- 
self. But,  had  I  more  faith,  and  simplicity, 
and  love,  and  self-denial,  1  might  do  all  I  do  in 
my  present  sphere,  but  I  should  throw  myself 
in  the  midst  of  them,  and  intreat  and  argue  and 
remonstrate. 

But  then  such  a  man  must  give  himself  up 
as  a  sacrifice.  He  would  be  misrepresented 
and  calumniated  from  many  quarters.  But  he 
would  make  up  his  account  for  such  treatment. 
How  would  St.  Paul  have  acted  in  such  a  state 
of  the  church?  Would  he  not  have  displayed 
that  warm  spirit,  which  made  him  say  O  fool- 
ish Galatians  i  who  hath  bewitched  you  ?  and  that 
holy  self-denial,  which  dictated  1  will-very  glad- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  165 

ly  spend  and  be  spent  for  you,  though  the  more  ex- 
ceedingly I  love  you  the  less  I  be  loved  ? 

It  is  not  to  be  calculated,  how  much  a  single 
man  may  effect,  who  throws  his  whole  powers 
into  a  thing.  Who,  for  instance,  can  estimate 
the  influence  of  VOLTAIRE  ?  He  shed  an  influ- 
ence of  a  peculiar  sort  over  Europe.  His 
powers  were  those  of  a  gay  buffoon — far  dif- 
ferent from  those  of  HUME,  and  others  of  his 
class — but  he  threw  himself  wholly  into  them. 
It  is  true  these  men  meet  the  wickedness  or 
the  imbecility  of  the  human  mind;  but  there 
are  many  right  hearted  people,  who  hang  a 
long  time  on  the  side  of  pure,  silent,  simple 
religion.  Let  a  man,  who  sees  things  as  I  do, 
throw  himself  out  with  all  his  powers,  to  res- 
cue and  guide  such  persons. 

On.  Fortifying  Youth  against  Infidel  Principles. 
I  NEVER  gathered  from  infidel  writers,  when  an 
avowed  infidel  mysolf,  any  solid  difficulties, 
which  were  not  brought  to  my  mind  by  a  very 
young  child  of  my  own.  u  Why  was  sin  per- 
mitted ?" — u  What  an  insignificant  world  is  this 
to  be  redeemed  by  the  incarnation  and  death 
of  the  Son  of  God'!"— "  Who  can  believe  that 
so  few  will  be  saved  ?" — Objections  of  this  kind, 
in  the  mind  of  reasoning  young  persons,  prove 
to  me  that  they  are  the  growth  of  fallen  nature. 
The  nurse  of  infidelity  is  sensuality.  Youth 
are  sensual.  The  Bible  stands  in  their  way. 
It  prohibits  the  indulgence  of  the  lust  of  theflesli, 
the  lust  of  the  eyet  and  the  pride  of  life.  But  the 
young  mind  loves  these  things^  and  therefore, 
15 


166  REMAINS  OE  MR.  CECIL. 

it  hates  the  Bible  which  prohibits  them.  It  is 
prepared  to  say,  u  If  any  man  will  bring  me 
arguments  against  the  Bible,  I  will  thank  him  ; 
if  not,  I  will  invent  them." 

As  to  infidel  arguments,  there  is  no  weight 
in  them.  They  are  jejune  and  refuted.  In- 
fidels are  not  themselves  convinced  by  them. 

In  combatting  this  evil  in  youth,  we  must  re- 
collect the  proverb,  that  u  a  man  may  bring 
his  horse  to  the  water,  but  cannot  make  him 
drink."  The  minds  of  the  young  are  pre-oc- 
cupied.  They  will  not  listen.  Yet  a  crisis  may 
come.  They  will  stop,  and  bethink  themselves. 

One  promising  method  with  them,  is,  TO  AP- 
PEAL TO  FACTS.  What  sort  of  men  are  infidels  ? 
They  are  loose — fierce — overbearing  men. 
There  is  nothing  in  them  like  sober  and  seri- 
ous inquiry.  They  are  the  wildest  fanatics  on 
earth.  Nor  have  they  agreed  among  them- 
selves on  any  scheme  of  truth  and  felicity. 
Contrast  with  the  character  of  infidels  that  of 
real  Christians. 

It  is  advantageous  to  dwell,  with  youth,   on 

THE  NEED  AND  NECESSITIES  OF  MAN.       ifc  Every   pang 

and  grief  tells  a  man  that  he  needs  a  helper: 
but  infidelity  provides  none.  And  what  can  its 
schemes  do  for  you  in  death?" 

Impress  them  with  A  SENSE  OF  THEIR  IGNO- 
RANCE. I  silence  myself,  many  times  a  day, 
by  a  sense  of  my  own  ignorance. 

APPEAL  TO  THEIR  CONSCIENCES.  u  Why  is  it 
that  you  listen  to  infidelity?  Is  not  infidelity  a 
low,  carnal,  wicked  game  ?  Is  it  not  the  very 
picture  of  the  Prodigal — Father,  give  me  ike 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  167 

i  of  goods  that  falleth  to  me  ? — "  The 
question  why  infidelity  is  received,  exposes  it, 
and  shows  it  to  the  light.  WHY — WHY  will  a 
man  be  an  infidel  ?  Your  children  may  urge 
difficulties  :  but  tell  them  that  inexplicable  dif- 
ficulties surround  you  :  you  are  compelled  to 
believe,  in  ninety  nine  cases  out  of  a  hundred, 
whether  you  will  or  no  ;  and  shall  you  not  be 
a  believer  in  the  hundreth  instance  from  choice  ? 

DRAW  OUT  A  MAP  OF  THE  ROAD  OF  INFIDELI- 
TY. It  will  lead  them  to  such  stages,  at  length, 
as  they  never  could  suspect.  Is  thy  servant  a 
dog*  that  he  should  do  this  thing  ? 

The  SPIRIT  AND  TONE  OF  YOUR  HOUSE  will  have 
great  influence  on  your  children.  If  it  is  what 
it  ought  to  be,  it  will  often  fasten  conviction 
on  their  mind-?,  however  wicked  they  may  be- 
come. I  have  felt  the  truth  of  this  in  my  own 
case  :  I  said  "  My  father  is  right,  and  I  am 
wrong  !  Oh,  let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous, 
and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his  /""  The  bye-con- 
versations in  a  family  are,  in  this  view,  of  un- 
speakable importance. 

On  the  whole,  arguments  addressed  to  the 
heart  press  more  forcibly  than  those  address- 
ed to  the  head.  When  I  was  a  child,  and  a 
very  wicked  one  too,  one  of  Dr.  Watt's  Hymns 
sent  me  to  weep  in  a  corner.  The  lives  in 
Jane  way's  Token  had  the  same  effect.  I  felt 
the  influence  of  faith  in  suffering  Christians. 
The.  character  of  young  Samuel  came  home  to 
me,  when  nothing  else  had  any  hold  on  my 
mind. 


168  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.       , 

On  the  Management  of  Children. 

GREAT  wisdom  is  requisite  in  correcting  the 
evils  of  children.  A  child  is  bashful  perhaps  : 
but,  in  stimulating  this  child,  we  are  too  apt  to 
forget  future  consequences.  "  Hold  up  your 
head.  Don't  be  vulgar."  At  length  they  hold 
up  their  heads ;  and  acquire  such  airs,  that,  too 
late,  we  discover  our  error.  We  forgot  that 
we  were  giving  gold,  to  purchase  dross.  We 
forgot  that  we  were  sacrificing  modesty  and 
humility,  to  make  them  .young  actors  and  old 
tyrants*. 

*  The  reader  cannot  but  admire  the  sentiments, 
which  Bishop  Hurd  has,  on  this  subject,  put  into  the 
mouth  of  Mr.  Locke,  one  of  his  supposed  interlocutors 
in  the  Dialogue  on  Foreign  Travels. 

u  Bashfulness  is  not  so  much  the  eifect  of  an  ill  ed- 
ucation, as  the  proper  gift  and  provision  of  wise  na- 
ture. Every  stage  of  life  has  its  own  set  of  manners, 
that  is  suited  to  it,  and  best  becomes  it.  Each  is  beau- 
tiful in  its  season  ;  and  you  might  as  well  quarrel 
with  the  child's  rattle,  and  advance  him  directly  to 
the  boy's  top  and  span- farthing,  as  expect  from  diffi- 
dent youth  the  manly  confidence  of  riper  age. 

"  Lamentable  in  the  mean  time,  I  am  sensible,  is 
the  condition  of  my  good  lady  :  who,  especially  if  she 
be  a  mighty,  well  bred  one,  is  perfectly  shocked  at 
the  boy's  awkwardness,  and  calls  out  on  the  tailor,  the 
dancing-master,  the  player,  the  travelled  tutor,  any 
body  and  every  body,  to  relieve  her  from  the  pain  of 
so  disgraceful  an  object. 

"  She  should  however,  be  told,  if  a  proper  season 
anU  words  soft  enough  could  be  found  to  convey  the 
information,  that  the  odious  thing  which  disturbs  her 
so  much,  is  one  of  nature's  signatures  impressed  on 
that  age  ;  that  bashfulness  is  but  the  passage  from  one 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  16'J 

CHRISTIANS  are  imbibing1  so  much  of  the  cast 
und  temper  of  the  age,  that  they  seem  to  be 
anxiously  tutoring  their  children,  and  prepar- 
ing them  by  ail  manner  of  means,  not  for  a 
better  world,  but  for  the  present.  Yet  in  noth- 
ing should  the  simplicity  of  faith  be  more  un- 
reservedly exercised,  than  with  regard  to  chil- 
dren. Their  appointments  and  stations,  yea 
even  their  present  and  eternal  happiness  or 
misery,  so  far  as  they  are  influenced  by  their 
states  and  conditions  in  life,  may  be  decided 
by  the  most  minute  and  trivial  events,  all  of 
which  are  in  God's  hand,  and  not  in  ours.  An 
unbelieving  spirit  pervades,  in  this  respect, 
too  intimately  the  Christian  world. 

WHEN  I  meet  children  to  instruct  them,  I  do 
not  suffer  one  grown  person  to  be  present. 
The  Moravians  pursue  a  different  method. 
Some  of  their  elder  brethren  even  sit  among 
the  children,  to  sanction  and  encourage  the 
work.  This  is  well,  provided  children  are  to 
be  addressed  in  the  usual  manner.  But  that 
will  effect  little  good.  Nothing  is  easier  than 
to  talk  to  children  ;  but,  to  talk  to  them  as 

season  of  life  to  another  ;  and  that  as  the  body  is  then 
the  least  graceful,  when  the  limbs  are  making  their 
last  efforts  and  hastening  to  their  just  proportion,  so 
the  manners  are  least  easy  and  disengaged,  when  the 
mind,  conscious  and  impatient  of  its  perfections,  is 
stretching  all  its  faculties  to  their  full  growth." 

See  Bishop  Kurd's  Moral  and  Political  Dialogue^ 
ed.  6th. 

Lond.  1788.  vol.  3d.  pp.  99,  100,  101.          J.  P. 
15* 


170  REMAINS  OE  MR.  CECIL. 

they  ought  to  be  talked  to,  is  the  very  last  ef- 
fort of  ability.  A  man  must  have  a  vigorous 
imagination.  He  must  have  extensive  knowl- 
edge, to  call  in  illustrations  from  the  four 
corners  of  the  earth;  for  he  will  make  little 
progress,  but  by  illustration.  It  requires  great 
genius,  to  throw  the  mind  into  the  habit  of 
children's  minds.  I  aim  at  this,  but  I  6nd  it 
the  utmost  effort  of  ability.  No  sermon  ever 
put  my  mind  half  so  much  on  the  stretch.  The 
effort  is  such,  that,  were  one  person  present, 
who  was  capable  of  weighing  the  propriety  of 
what  1  said,  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to 
proceed  :  the  mind  must,  in  such  a  case,  be 
perfectly  at  its  ease  :  it  must  not  have  to  exert 
itself  under  cramps  and  fetters.  I  am  surprised 
at  nothing  which  Dr.  Watts  did,  but  his  Hymns 
for  Children.  Other  men  could  have  written 
as  well  as  he,  in  his  other  works  :  but  how  he 
wrote  these  hymns,  I  know  not.  Stories  fix 
children's  attention.  The  moment  I  begin  to 
talk  in  any  thing  like  an  abstract  manner,  the 
attention  subsides.  The  simplest  manner  in 
the  world  will  not  make  way  to  children's 
minds  for  abstract  truths.  With  stories  I  find 
I  could  rivet  their  attention  for  two  or  three 
hours. 

CHILDREN  are  very  early  capable  of  impres- 
sion. I  imprinted  on  my  daughter  the  idea  of 
faith,  at  a  very  early  age.  She  was  playing 
one  day  with  a  few  beads,  which  seemed  to  de- 
Jight  her  wonderfully.  Her  whole  soul  was 
absorbed  in  her  beads.  I  said — "My  dear, 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  171 

you  have  some  pretty  beads  there." — u  Yes, 
Papa  !" — u  And  you  seem  to  be  vastly  pleased 
with  them,"— "  Yes,  Papa  !"-— "  Weil  now, 
throw  5em  behind  the  fire."  The  tears  started 
into  her  eyes.  She  looked  earnestly  at  me, 
as  though  she  ought  to  have  a  reason  for  such 
a  cruel  sacrifice.  "  Well,  my  dear,  do  as  you 
please  :  but  you  know  I  never  told  you  to  do 
any  thing-,  which  I  did  not  think  would  be  good 
for  you."  She  looked  at  me  a  few  moments 
longer,  and  then — summoning  up  all  her  for- 
titude— her  breast  heaving  with  the  effort — 
she  dashed  them  into  the  fire. — "  Well,"  said 
I;  "there  let  them  lie,  you  .shall  hear  more 
about  them  another  time  ;  but  say  no  more 
about  them  now."  Some  days  after,  I  bought 
her  a  box  full  of  larger  beads,  and  toys  of  the 
same  kind.  When  1  returned  home,  I  opened 
the  treasure  and  set  it  before  her:  she  burst 
into  tears  with  ecstacy.  u  Those,  my  child," 
said  I,  u  are  yours :  because  you  believed  me, 
when  I  told  you  it  would  be  better  for  you  to 
throw  those  two  or  three  paltry  beads  behind 
the  fire.  Now  that  has  brought  you  this  treas- 
ure. But  now,  my  dear,  remember,  as  long 
as  you  live,  what  FAITH  is.  I  did  all  this  to 
teach  you  the  meaning  of  FAITH.  You  threw 
your  beads  away  when  I  bid  you,  because  you 
had  faith  in  me,  that  I  never  advised  you  but 
for  your  good.  Put  the  same  confidence  in 
God.  Believe  every  thing  that  he  says  in  his 
word.  Whether  you  understand  it  or  not, 
have  faith  in  him  that  he  means  your  good." 


172  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECl'lA 

On  Family  Worship. 

FAMILY  religion  is  of  unspeakable  importance. 
Its  effect  will  greatlj  depend  on  the  sincerity 
of  the  head  of  the  family,  and  on  his  mode  of 
conducting  the  worship  of  his  household.  If 
his  children  and  servants  do  not  see  his  prayers 
exemplified  in  his  tempers  and  manners  they 
will  be  disgusted  with  religion.  Tediousness 
will  weary  them.  Fine  language  will  shoot 
about  them.  Formality  of  connexion  or  com- 
position in  prayer  they  will  not  comprehend. 
Gloominess  or  austerity  of  devotion  will  make 
them  dread  religion  as  a  hard  service.  Let 
them  be  met  with  smiles.  Let  them  be  met 
as  for  the  most  delightful  service  in  which 
they  can  be  engaged.  Let  them  find  it  short, 
savory,  simple,  plain,  tender,  heavenly.  Wor- 
ship, thus  conducted,  may  be  used  as  an  engine 
of  vast  power  in  a  family.  It  diffuses  a  sym- 
pathy through  the  members.  It  calls  off  the 
mind  from  the  deadening  effect  of  worldly  af- 
fairs. It  arrests  every  member,  with  a  morn- 
ing and  evening  sermon,  in  the  midst  of  all  the 
hurries  and  cares  of  life.  It  says,  u  There  is 
a  u  God"— u  There  is  a  spiritual  world  !" — 
"  There  is  a  life  to  come  !"  It  fixes  the  idea  of 
responsibility  in  the  mind.  It  furnishes  a  ten- 
der and  judicious  father  or  master  with  an  op- 
portunity of  gently  glancing  at  faults,  where  a 
direct  admonition  might  be  inexpedient.  It 
enables  him  to  relieve  the  weight  with  which 
subordination  or  service  often  sits  on  the  minds 
of  inferiors. 

In  my  family-worship  I  am  not  the  reader. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  173 

but  employ  one  of  my  children.  I  make  no 
formal  comment  on  the  Scripture  :  but,  when 
any  striking  event  or  sentiment  arises,  1  say 
"  Mark  that !" — u  See  how  God  judges  of  that 
thing  !"  Sometimes  1  ask  what  they  think  of 
the  matter,  and  how  such  a  thing  strikes  them. 
I  generally  receive  very  strange,  and  some- 
times ridiculous  answers  ;  but  I  am  pleased 
with  them:  attention  is  all  alive,  while  1  am 
explaining  wherein  they  err,  and  what  is  the 
truth.  In  this  manner  I  endeavor  to  impress 
the  spirit  and  scope  of  the  passage  on  the  fam- 
ily- 

I  particularly  aim   at   the  eradication   of  a 

false  principle,  wonderfully  interwoven  with 
the  minds  of  children  and  servants — they  take 
their  standard  from  the  neighborhood  and  their 
acquaintance,  and  by  this  they  judge  of  every 
thing.  I  endeavor  to  raise  them  to  a  persua- 
sion, that  God's  will  in  Scripture  is  the  stand- 
ard; and  that  this  standard  is  perpetually  in 
opposition  to  that  corrupt  one  around  and  be- 
fore them. 

The  younger  children  of  the  family  will 
soon  have  discernment  enough  to  perceive  that 
the  Bible  has  a  holiness  about  it,  that  runs  di- 
rectly contrary  to  the  stream  of  opinion.  And 
then  because  this  character  is  so  evident,  and 
so  inseparable  from  the  Scripture,  the  heart 
will  distaste  and  reject  it.  Yet  the  standard 
must  be  preserved.  If  a  man  should  lower  it, 
they  would  soon  detect  him  ;  and  he  must  after 
all,  raise  them  up  to  the  right  standard  again. 
Much  may  be  effected  by  manner,  as  to  im- 


174  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

pressing  truth  ;  but,  still  truth  will  remain  irk- 
some, till  God  touch  the  heart. 

1  read  the  Scriptures  to  my  family  in  some 
regular  order:  and  am  pleased  to  have  thus  a 
lesson  found  for  me.  I  look  on  the  chapter 
of  the  day  as  a  lesson  sent  for  that  day  ;  and  so 
I  regard  it  as  coming  from  God  for  the  use  of 
that  day,  and  not  of  my  own  seeking. 

I  find  it  easy  to  keep  up  the  attention  of  a 
congregation,  in  comparison  of  that  of  my 
family.  I  have  found  the  attention  best  gain- 
ed, by  bringing  the  truths  of  Scripture  into 
comparison  with  the  facts  which  are  before 
our  eyes.  It  puts  more  stimuli  into  family-ex- 
positions. I  never  found  a  fact  lost,  or  the 
current  news  of  the  day  fail  of  arresting  the 
attention.  "  How  does  the  Bible  account  for 
that  fact? — That  man  murdered  his  Father — 
This  or  that  thing  happened  in  our  house  to- 
day— What  does  the  Scripture  say  of  such 
things  ?" 

It  is  difficult  to  fix  and  quiet  your  family. 
The  servants  are  eager  to  be  gone,  to  do  some- 
thing in  hand.  There  has  been  some  disagree- 
ment, perhaps  between 'them  and  their  mis- 
tress. We  must  seize  opportunities.  We  must 
not  drive  hard  at  such  times  as  these.  Reg» 
ularity,  however,  must  be  enforced.  If  a  cer- 
tain hour  is  not  fixed  and  adhered  to,  the  fam- 
ily will  inevitably  be  found  in  confusion. 

Religion  should  be  prudently  brought  before 
a  family.  The  old  Dissenters  wearied  their 
families.  Jacob  reasoned  well  with  Esau, 
about  the  tenderness  of  his  children  and  his 


. 

flocks   and    h« 


REMAINS  OF  MR*  CECIL.  175 


locks  and  herds.  Something  gentle,  quiet, 
moderate,  should  be  our  aim.  There  should 
be  no  scolding:  it  should  be  mild  and  pleasant. 

I  avoid  absolute  uniformity  :  the  mind  revolts 
at  it :  though  I  would  shun  eccentricity,  for 
that  is  still  worse.  At  one  time  1  would  say 
something  on  what  is  read  :  but,  at  another 
time,  nothing,  I  make  it  as  NATURAL  as  possi- 
ble :  "  I  am  a  religious  man :  you  are  my  chil- 
dren and  my  servants  :  it  is  NATURAL  that  we 
should  do  so  and  so." 

Nothing  of  superstition  should  attach  to  fam- 
ily duty.  It  is  not  absolutely  and  in  all  cases 
indispensable.  If  unavoidably  interrupted,  we 
omit  it :  it  is  well.  If  I  were  peremptorily  or- 
dered, as  the  Jews  were,  to  bring  a  lamb,  I 
must  be  absolute.  But  this  service  is  my  lib- 
erty, not  my  task.  I  do  not,  however,  mean 
in  any  degree  to  relax  the  proper  obligation. 

Children  and  servants  should  see  us  acting 
on  the  Psalmist's  declaration,  /  will  speak  of 
thy  testimony  before  Kings.  !f  a  great  man  hap- 
pen to  be  present,  let  them  see  that  I  deem 
him  nothing  before  the  word  of  God  ! 

On  the  Influence  of  the  Parental  Character. 

THE  influence  of  the  parental  character  on 
children  is  not  to  be  calculated.  Every  thing 
around  has  an  influence  on  us.  Indeed,  the 
influence  of  things  is  so  great,  that,  by  famil- 
iarity with  them,  they  insensibly  urge  us  on 
principles  and  feelings  which  we  before  ab- 
horred. I  knew  a  man  who  took  ID  a  demo- 


176  REMAINS,  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

cratical  paper,  only  to  laugh  at  it.  But  at  length, 
he  had  read  the  same  things  again  and  again, 
so  often,  that  he  began  to  think  there  must  be 
some  truth  in  them,  and  that  men  and  meas- 
ures were  really  such  as  they  were  so  often 
said  to  be.  A  drop  of  water  seems  to  have  no 
influence  on  the  stone  ;  but  it  will  in  the  end, 
wear  its  way  through.  If  there  be  therefore, 
such  a  mighty  influence  in  every  thing  around 
us,  the  parental  influence  must  be  great  indeed. 

Consistency  is  the  great  character,  in  good 
parents,  which  impresses  children.  They  may 
witness  much  temper ;  but  if  they  see  their 
Father  u  keep  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,"  his 
imperfections  will  be  understood  and  allowed 
for  as  reason  opens.  The  child  will  see  and 
reflect  on  his  parent's  intention :  and  this  will 
have  great  influence  on  his  mind.  This  influ- 
ence mav,  indeed,  be  afterwards  counteracted  : 
but  that  only  proves  that  contrary  currents 
may  arise,  and  carry  the  child  another  way. 
Old  Adam  may  be  too  strong  for  young  Me- 
lancthon. 

The  implantation  of  principles  is  of  unspeak- 
able importance,  especially  when  culled  from 
time  to  time  out  of  the  Bible.  The  child  feels 
his  parent's  authority  supported  by  the  Bible, 
and  the  authority  of  the  Bible  supported  by  his 
parent's  weight  and  influence.  Here  are  data 
— fixed  data.  A  man  can  very  seldom  get  rid 
of  these  principles.  They  stand  in  his  way. 
•He  wishes  to  forget  them,  perhaps  ;  but  it  is 
impossible. 

Where  parental  influence  does  not  convert 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  1  77 

it  hampers.  It  hangs  on  the  wheels  of  evil. 
1  had  a  pious  mother,  who  dropped  things  in 
my  way.  I  could  never  rid  myself  of  them, 
I  was  a  professed  infidel :  but  then  I  liked  to 
be  an  infidel  in  company,  rather  than  when 
alone.  1  was  wretched  when  by  myself.  These 
principles,  and  maxims,  and  data  spoiled  my 
jollity.  With  my  companions  I  could  some- 
times stifle  them:  like  embers  we  kept  one 
another  warm.  Besides,  I  was  here  a  sort  of 
hero.  I  had  beguiled  several  of  my  associates 
into  my  own  opinions,  and  I  had  to  maintain  a 
character  before  them.  But  I  could  not  divest 
myself  of  my  better  principles.  I  went  with 
one  of  my  companions  to  see  "  The  Minor." 
He  could  laugh  heartily  at  mother  Cole — I 
could  not.  He  saw  in  her  the  picture  of  all 
who  talked  about  religion — I  knew  better.  The 
ridicule  on  regeneration  was  high  sport  to  hirn 
— to  me,  it  was  none  :  it  could  not  move  my 
features.  He  knew  no  difference  between 
regeneration  and  transubstantiation — I  did.  I 
knew  there  was  such  a  thing.  I  was  afraid 
and  ashamed  to  laugh  at  it.  Parental  influence 
thus  cleaves  to  a  man :  it  harasses  him — it 
throws  itself  continually  in  his  way. 

I  find  in  myself  another  evidence  'of  the 
greatness  of  parental  influence.  I  detect  myself 
to  this  day,  in  laying  down  maxims  in  my  fam- 
ily, which  I  took  up  at  three  or  four  years  of 
age,  before  I  could  possibly  know  the  reason 
of  the  thing. 

It  is  of  incalculable  importance   to  obtain  a 
hold  on  the  conscience.     Children  have  a  con- 
16 


178  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

science  ;  and  it  is  not  seared,  though  it  is  evil. 
Bringing  the  eternal  world  into  their  view — 
planning  and  acting  with  that  world  before  us 
— this  gains  at  length,  such  a  hold  on  them, 
that,  with  all  the  infidel  poison  whicti  they  may 
afterward  imbibe,  there  are  few  children  who, 
at  night — in  their  chamber — in  the  dark — in 
a  storm  of  thunder — will  not  feel.  They  can- 
not cheat  like  other  men.  They  recollect  that 
ETERNITY,  which  stands  in  their  way.  It  rises 
up  before  them,  like  the  ghost  of  Banquo  to 
Macbeth.  It  goads  them  :  it  thunders  in  their 
ears.  After  all,  they  are  obliged  to  compound 
the  matter  with  conscience,  if  they  cannot  be 
prevailed  on  to  return  to  God  without  delay  : — 
"  I  MUST  be  religious,  one  time  or  other.  That 
is  clear.  I  cannot  get  rid  of  this  thing.  Well  !  I 
will  begin  at  such  a  time.  I  will  finish  such  a 
scheme,  and  then  ?" 

The  opinions— the  spirit — the  conversation 
— the  manners  of  the  parent,  influence  the 
child.  Whatever  sort  of  man  he  is,  such  in  a 
great  degree,  will  be  the  child ;  unless  consti- 
tution or  accident  give  him  another  turn.  If 
the  parent  is  a  fantastic  man — if  he  is  a  gene- 
alogist, knows  nothing  but  who  married  such 
an  one,  and  who  married  such  an  one — if  he  is 
a  sensualist,  a  low  wretch — his  children  will 
usually  catch  these  tastes.  If  he  is  a  literary 
man — his  very  girls  will  talk  learnedly.  If  he 
is  a  griping,  hard,  miserly  man — such  will  be 
his  children.  This  I  speak  of  as  GENERALLY 
the  case.  It  may  happen,  that  the  parent's 
disposition  may  have  no  ground  to  work  on  in 


that  of  the 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  17$ 


that  of  the  child.  It  may  happen,  that  the 
child  may  be  driven  into  disgust :  the  miser,  for 
instance,  often  implants  disgust,  and  his  son  be- 
comes a  spendthrift. 

After  all,  in  some  cases,  perhaps,  every 
thing-  seems  to  have  been  done  and  exhibited 
by  the  pious  parent  in  vain.  Yet  he  casts  his 
bread  upon  the  waters.  And,  perhaps,  after  he 
has  been  in  his  grave  twenty  years,  his  son 
remembers  what  his  father  told  him. 

Besides,  parental  influence  must  be  great, 
because  God  has  said  that  it  shall  be  so.  The 
parent  is  not  to  stand  reasoning  and  calculat- 
ing. God  has  said  that  his  character  shall 
have  influence. 

And  this  appointment  of  Providence  becomes 
often  the  punishment  of  a  wicked  man.  Such 
a  man  is  a  complete  SELFIST.  I  am  weary  of 
hearing  such  men  talk  about  their  u  family" — 
and  their  "family" — they  u  must  provide  for 
their  family."  Their  family  has  no  place  in 
their  REAL  REGARD.  They  push  for  themselves. 
But  God  says — u  No!  You  think  j^our children 
shall  be  so  and  so.  But  they  shall  be  rods  for 
your  own  backs.  They  shall  be  your  curse. 
They  shall  rise  up  against  you."  The  most 
common  of  all  human  complaints  is — Parents 
groaning  under  the  vices  of  their  children  ! 
This  is  all  the  effect  of  parental  influence. 

In  the  exercise  of  this  influence  there  are 
two  leading  dangers  to  be  avoided. 

Excess  of  SEVERITY  is  one  danger.  My  moth- 
er on  the  contrary,  would  talk  to  me,  and  weep 
as  she  talked.  I  flung  out  of  the  house  with  an 


180  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL. 

oath. — but  wept  too  when  I  got  into  the  street. 
Sympathy  is  the  powerful  engine  of  a  mother. 
1  was  desperate — I  would  go  on  board  a  priva- 
teer. But  there  are  soft  moments  to  such 
desperadoes.  God  does  not,  at  once,  abandon 
them  to  themselves.  There  are  times  when 
the  man  says — u  I  should  be  glad  to  return,  but 
I  should  not  like  to  meet  that  face  !"  if  he  has 
been  treated  with  severity. 

Yet  excess  of  LAXITY  is  another  danger.  The 
case  of  Eli  affords  a  serious  warning  on  this 
subject.  Instead  of  his  mild  expostulation  on 
the  flagrant  wickedness  of  his  sons — Nay,  my 
sons,  it  is  no  good  report  that  I  hear — he  ought 
to  have  exercised  his  authority  as  a  parent 
and  magistrate  in  punishing  and  restraining1 
their  crimes. 


Remarks  on  Authors. 

WHEN  I  look  at  the  mind  of  LORD  BACON — it 
seems  vast,  original,  penetrating,  analogical, 
beyond  ail  competition.  When  I  look  at  his 
character — it  is  wavering,  shuffling,  mean.  In 
the  closing  scene,  and  in  that  only,  he  appears 
in  true  dignity,  as  a  man  of  profound  contrition. 

BAXTER  surpasses,  perhaps,  all  others,  in  the 
grand,  impressive,  and  persuasive  style.  But 
he  is  not  to  be  named  with  Owen  as  to  furnish- 
ing the  student's  mind.  He  is,  however,  mul- 
tifarious, complex,  practical. 

CLARKE  has,  above  all  other  men,  the  faculty 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

lowering1  the  life  and  spiritual  sense  of  Scrip- 
re  to  such  perfection,  as  to  leave  it  like  dry 
bones,  divested  of  every  particle  of  marrow  or 
oil.  SOUTH  is  nearer  the  truth.  He  tells  more 
of  it;  but  he  tells  it  with  the  tongue  of  a  vi- 
per, for  he  was  most  bitterly  set  against  the 
Puritans.  But  there  is  a  spirit  and  life  about 
him.  He  must  and  will  be  heard.  And  now 
and  then,  he  darts  on  us  with  an  unexpected 
and  incomparable  stroke. 


THE  MODERN  GERMAN  WRITERS,  and  the  whole 
school  formed  after  them,  systematically  and 
intentionally  confound  vice  and  virtue,  and  ar- 
gue for  the  passions  against  the  morals  and 
institutions  of  society.  There  never  was  a 
more  dangerous  book  written,  than  one  that 
Mrs.  WOLSTONECRAFT  left  imperfect,  but  which 
GODWIN  published  after  her  death.  Her 
"  Wrongs  of  Women"  is  an  artful  apology  for 
adulter}'  :  she  labours  to  interest  the  feelings 
in  favor  of  an  adulteress,  by  making  her  crime 
the  consequence  of  the  barbarous  conduct  of  a 
despicable  husband,  while  she  is  painted  all 
softness  and  sensibility.  Nothing  like  this  was 
ever  attempted  before  the  modern  school. 

"  SOME  men,"  said  Dr.  Patten  to  me,  "  are  al- 
ways crying  fire  !  fire  !"  To  be  sure — where 
there  is  danger,  there  ought  to  be  affectionate 
earnestness.  Who  would  remonstrate,  coldty 
and  with  indifference,  with  a  man  about  to  pre- 
cipitate himself  from  Dover  Cliff,  and  not  rath- 
er snatch  him  forcibly  from  destruction  ?  Truth, 
16* 


182  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

in  its  living  influence  on  the  heart,  will  shew 
itself  in  consecratedness  and  holy  zeal.  When 
teachers  of  religion  are  destitute  of  these  qual- 
ities, the  world  readily  infers  that  religion  it- 
self is  a  farce.  Let  us  do  the  world  justice.  It 
has  very  seldom  found  a  considerate,  accom- 
modating, and  gentle,  but  withal  earnest,  heav- 
enly, and  enlightened  teacher.  When  it  has 
found  such,  truth  has  received  a  very  general 
attention.  Such  a  man  was  HERVEY,  and  his 
works  have  met  their  reward. 

HOMER  approaches  nearest  of  all  the  heathen 
poets  to  the  grandeur  of  Hebrew  poetry.  With 
the  theological  light  of  Scripture,  he  would 
have  wonderfully  resembled  it. 

HOOKER  is  incomparable  in  strength  and  sanc- 
tity. His  first  books  are  wonderful.  1  do  not 
so  perfectly  meet  him,  as  he  advances  toward 
the  close. 


LOSKIEL'S  "  Account  of  the  Moravian  Missions 
among  the  North  American  Indians"  has  taught 
me  two  things.  I  have  found  in  it  a  striking 
illustration  of  the  uniformity  with  which  the 
grace  of  God  operates  on  men.  Crantz,  in  his 
"Account  of  the  Missions  in  Greenland,"  had 
shewn  the  grace  of  God  working  on  a  man- 
fish  :  on  a  stupid — sottish — senseless  creature 
— scarcely  a  remove  from  the  fish  on  which 
he  lived.  Loskiel  shews  the  same  grace  work- 
ing on  a  man-devil:  a  fierce — bloody — revenge* 
ful  warrior — dancing  his  infernal  war-dance 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  183 

\vith  the  mind  of  a  fury.  Divine  grace  brings 
these  men  to  the  same  point.  It  quickens,  stim- 
ulates, and  elevates  the  Greenlander:  it  rais- 
es him  to  a  sort  of  new  life  :  it  seems  almost 
to  hestow  on  him  new  senses :  it  opens  his  eye, 
and  bends  his  ear,  and  rouses  his  heart :  and 
what  it  adds — it  sanctifies.  The  same  grace 
tames  the  high  spirit  of  the  Indian :  it  reduces 
him  to  the  meekness,  and  docility,  and  simplic- 
ity of  a  child.  The  evidence  arising  to  Chris- 
tianity from  these  facts  is,  perhaps,  seldom  suf- 
ficient, by  itself,  to  convince  the  gainsayer  :  but, 
to  a  man  who  already  believes,  it  greatly 
strengthens  the  reasons  of  his  belief.  1  have 
seen  also  in  these  books,  that  the  fish  boat, 
and  the  oil,  and  the  tomahawk,  and  the  cap  of 
feathers  excepted — a  Christian  minister  has  to 
deal  with  just  the  same  sort  of  creatures,  as  the 
Greenlander  and  the  Indian  among  civilized  na- 
tions. 

OWEN  stands  at  the  head  of  his  class  of  divines. 
His  scholars  will  be  more  profound  and  enlarg- 
ed, and  better  furnished,  than  those  of  most 
other  writers.  His  work  on  the  Spirit  ha$ 
been  my  treasure-house  and  one  of  my  very 
first-rate  books.  Such  writers  as  RICOALTOUN 
rather  disqualify  than  prepare  a  minister  for 
the  immediate  business  of  the  pulpit.  Origi- 
nal and  profound  thinkers  enlarge  his  views, 
and  bring  into  exercise  the  powers  and  ener- 
gies of  his  own  mind,  and  should  therefore  be 
his  daily  companions.  Their  matter  must, 
however,  be  ground  down  before  it  will  be  fit 


184  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CfiCIL. 

for  the  pulpit.  Such  writers  as  Chven,  who 
though  less  original,  have  united  detail  with 
wisdom,  are  copious  in  proper  topics,  and  in' 
matter  better  prepared  for  immediate  use,  and 
in  furniture  read}'  finished,  as  it  were,  for 
the  mind. 


PALEY  is  an  unsound  casuist,  and  is  likely  to  do 
great  injury  to  morals.  His  extenuation  of 
the  crimes  committed  by  an  intoxicated  man, 
for  instance,  is  fallacious  and  dangerous.  Mul- 
tiply the  crime  of  intoxication  into  the  conse- 
quences that  follow  from  it,  and  you  have  the 
sum  total  of  the  guilt  of  a  drunken  man. 

RUTHERFORD'S  betters  is  one  of  my  classics. 
Were  truth  the  beam,  1  have  no  doubt,  that  if 
Homer  and  Virgil  and  Horace  and  all  that  the 
world  has  agreed  to  idolize  were  weighed  a- 
gainst  that  book,  they  would  be  lighter  than 
vanity.  He  is  a  real  original.  There  are  in 
his  letters  some  inexpressibly  forcible  and  ar- 
resting remonstrances  with  unconverted  men. 

I  SHOULD  not  recommend  a  young  minister  to 
pav  much  deference  to  the  SCOTCH  DIVINES. 
The  Erskines,  who  were  the  best  of  them,  are 
dry,  and  labored,  and  prolix,  arid  wearisome. 
He  mav  find  incomparable  matter  in  them,  but 
he  should  beware  of  forming  his  taste  and  man- 
ner after  their  model.  1  want  a  more  kind- 
hearted  and  liberal  sort  of  divinity.  He  had 
much  better  take  up  Bishop  Hall.  There  is  a 
set  of  excellent,  but  wrong-headed  men,  who 


;form  the  London  preachers  on  a  more 
elaborate  plan.  They  are  not  philosophers 
who  talk  thus.  If  Owen  himself  were  to  rise 
from  the  grave,  unless  it  were  for  the  influence 
of  the  great  name  which  he  would  bring  with 
him,  he  might  close  his  days  with  a  small  con- 
gregation, in  some  little  meeting-house. 


SHAKSPEARE  had  a  low  and  licentious  taste- — 
When  he^  chose  to  imagine  a  virtuous  and  ex- 
alted character,  he  would  completelj'  throw 
his  mind  into  it,  and  give  the  perfect  picture 
of  such  a  character.  But  he  is  at  home  in  Fal- 
staff.  No  high,  grand,  virtuous,  religious  aim 
beams  forth  in  him.  A  man,  whose  heart  and 
taste  are  modelled  on  the  Bible,  nauseates  him 
in  the  mass,  while  he  is  enraptured  and  aston- 
ished by  the  flashes  of  his  pre-eminent  genius. 

u  Have  you  read  my  Key  to  the  Romans  ?" — 
said  Dr.  TAYLOR,  of  Norwich,  to  Mr.  NEWTON. 
— u  I  have  turned  it  over.*" — u  You  have  turn- 
ed it  over!  And  is  this  the  treatment  a  book 
must  meet  with,  which  has  cost  me  many  years 
of  hard  study  ?  Mu«t  I  be  toid,  at  last,  that 
you  have  4  turned  it  over,'  and  then  thrown  it 
aside  ?  You  ought  to  have  read  it  carefully  and 
weighed  deliberately  what  comes  forward  on 
so  serious  a  subject.1" — u  Hold  !  You  have 
cut  me  out  full  employment,  if  my  life  were  to 
be  as  long  as  Methuselah's.  I  have  somewhat 
else  to  do  in  the  short  day  allotted  me,  than  to 
read  whatever  any  one  may  think  it  his  duty 
to  write.  When  I  read,  I  wish  to  read  to  good 


186  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

purpose  ;  and  there  are  some  books,  which 
contradict  on  the  very  face  of  them  what  ap- 
pear to  me  to  be  first  principles.  You  surely 
will  not  say  I  am  bound  to  read  such  books. 
If  a  man  tells  me  he  has  a  very  elaborate  ar- 
g:jment  to  prove  that  two  and  two  make  five, 
I  have  something  else  to  do  than  to  attend  to 
this  argument.  If  I  find  the  first  mouthful  of 
meat  which  I  take  from  a  fine-looking  joint  oa 
my  table  is  tainted,  I  need  not  eat  through  it 
to  be  convinced  1  ought  to  send  it  away." 


I  NEVER  read  any  sermons  so  much  like  WHITE- 
FIELD'S  manner  of  preaching  as  LATIMER'S  — 
You  see  a  simple  mind  uttering  all  its  feelings  ; 
and  putting  forth  every  thing  as  it  comes,  with- 
out any  reference  to  books  or  men,  with  a 
naivete  seldom  equalled. 

I  ADMIRED  WITSIUS'S  u  Economy  of  the  Cove- 
nants," but  not  so  much  as  many  persons. — 
There  is  too  much  system.  J  used  to  study 
commentators  and  systems;  but  I  am  come  al- 
most wholly,  at  length,  to-  the  Bible.  Com- 
mentators are  excellent  in  general,  where 
there  are  but  few  difficulties  ;  but  they  leave 
the  harder  knots  still  untied.  I  find  in  the  Bi- 
ble, the  more  I  read,  a  grand  peculiarity,  that 
seems  to  say  to  all  who  attempt  to  systematize 
it — u  I  am  not  of  your  kind.  I  am  not  amena- 
ble to  your  methods  of  thinking.  I  am  untract- 
able  in  your  hands.  1  stand  alone.  The  great 
and  wise  shall  never  exhaust  my  treasures. — 
By  figures  and  parables  I  will  come  down  to 


REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECIL.  187 

the  feelings  and  understandings  of  the  ignorant. 
Leave  me  as  I  am,  but  study  me  incessantly." 
CALVIN'S  Institutes  are,  to  be  sure,  great  and 
admirable,  and  so  are  his  Commentaries ;  but 
after  all,  if  we  must  have  commentators — as 
we  certainly  must — POOLE  is  incomparable, 
and  I  had  almost  said  abundant  of  himself. 


YOUNG  is,  of  all  other  men,  one  of  the  most 
striking  examples  of  the  disunion  of  piety  from 
truth.  If  we  read  his  most  true,  impassioned, 
and  impressive  estimate  of  the  world  and  of 
religion,  we  shall  think  it  impossible  that  he 
was  uninfluenced  by  his  subject.  It  is  how- 
ever, a  melancholy  fact,  that  he  was  hunting 
after  preferment  at  eighty  years  old;  and  felt 
and  spoke  like  a  disappointed  man.  The  truth 
was  pictured  on  his  mind  in  most  vivid  colors. 
He  felt  it,  while  he  was  writing.  He  felt 
himself  on  a  retired  spot:  and  he  saw  death, 
the  mighty  hunter,  pursuing  the  unthinking 
world.  He  saw  redemption — its  necessity  and 
its  grandeur ;  and  while  he  looked  on  it,  he 
spoke  as  a  man  would  speak  whose  mind  and 
heart  are  deeply  engaged.  Notwithstanding 
all  this,  the  view  did  not  reach  his  heart.  Had 
I  preached  in  his  pulpit  with  the  fervor  and  in- 
erest  that  his  "  Night  Thoughts"  discover,  he 
would  have  been  terrified.  He  told  a  friend 
of  mine,  who  went  to  him  under  religious  fears, 
that  he  must  GO  MORE  INTO  THE  WORLD  ! 


188  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

/ 

ON  THE  SCRIPTURES. 

Miscellaneous  Remarks  on  the  Scriptures. 

I  AM  an  entire  disciple  of  Butler.  He  calls  his 
book  u  Analogy  ;"  but  the  great  subject,  from 
beginning  to  end,  is  HUMAN  IGNORANCE,  Berke- 
ley has  done  much  to  reduce  man  to  a  right 
view  of  his  attainments  in  real  knowledge  • 
but  he  goes  too  far :  he  requires  a  demonstra- 
tion of  self-evident  truths:  he  requires  me  to 
demonstrate  that  that  table  is  before  me.  Beat- 
tie  has  well  replied  to  this  error,  in  his  u  Im- 
mutability of  Truth ;"  though  it  pleased  Mr. 
Hume  to  call  that  book — u  Philosophy  for  the 
Ladies," 

Metaphysicians  seem  born  to  puzzle  and 
confound  mankind.  I  am  surprised  to  hear 
men  talk  of  their  having  demonstrated  such 
and  such  points.  Even  Andrew  Baxter,  one 
of  the  best  of  these  metaphysicians,  though  he 
reasons  and  speculates  well,  has  not  demon- 
strated to  my  mind  one  single  point  by  his 
reasonings.  They  know  nothing  at  all  on  the 
subject  of  moral  and  religious  truth,  beyond 
what  God  has  revealed.  I  am  so  deeply  con- 
vinced of  this,  that  I  can  sit  by  and  smile  at  the 
fancies  of  these  men  ;  and  especially  when 
they  fancy  they  have  found  out  DEMONSTRATIONS. 
Why  there  are  demonstrators,  who  will  carry 
the  world  before  them  ;  till  another  man  rises, 
who  demonstrates  the  very  opposite,  and  then, 
of  course,  the  world  follows  him  ! 

We  are  mere  mites  creeping  on  the  earth, 


REMAINS  OP  MR.  CECIL.  189 

and  oftentimes  conceited  mites  too.  If  any  su- 
perior being  will  condescend  to  visit  us  and 
teach  us,  something"  may  be  known.  u  Has 
God  spoken  to  man  ?"  This  is  the  most  impor- 
tant question  that  can  be  asked.  All  ministers 
should  examine  this  matter  to  the  foundation^ 
Many  are  culpably  negligent  herein.  But, 
when  this  has  been  done,  let  there  be  no  more 
questionings  and  surmises.  My  son  is  not,  per- 
haps, convinced  that  I  am  entitled  to  be  his 
teacher.  Let  us  try.  If  he  finds  that  he  knows 
more  than  I  do — well :  if  he  finds  that  he  knows 
nothing  and  submits — I  am  not  to  renew  this 
conviction  in  his  mind  every  time  he  chooses 
to  require  me  to  do  so. 

If  any  honest  and  benevolent  man  felt  scru- 
ples in  his  breast  concerning  Revelation,  he 
would  hide  them  there ;  and  would  not  move 
wretched  men  from  the  only  support,  which 
they  can  have  in  this  world.  I  am  thoroughly 
convinced  of  the  want  of  real  integrity  and  be- 
nevolence in  all  infidels.  And  I  am  as  thor- 
oughly convinced  of  the  want  of  real  belief  of 
the  Scriptures,  in  most  of  those  who  profess  to 
believe  them. 

Metaphysicians  can  unsettle  things,  but  they 
can  erect  nothing.  They  can  pull  down  a  church, 
but  they  cannot  build  a  hovel.  The  Hutch- 
insonians  have  said  the  best  things  about  the 
metaphysicians.  I  am  no  Hutchinsonian;  yet 
1  see  that  they  have  data,  and  that  there  is 
something  worth  proving  in  what  they  assert. 


PRINCIPLE  is  to  be  distinguished  from  PREJUDICE. 
17 


I  £)0  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL. 

The  man  who  should  endeavour  to  weaken 
my  beiief  of  the  truth  of  the  Bible,  and  of  the 
fair  deduction  from  it  of  the  leading  doctrines 
of  religion,  under  the  notion  of  their  being 
prejudices,  should  be  regarded  by  me  as  an  as- 
sassin. He  stabs  me  in  my  dearest  hopes :  he 
robs  me  of  my  solid  happiness  ;  and  he  has  no 
equivalent  to  offer.  This  species  of  evidence 
of  the  truth  and  value  of  Scripture  is  within 
the  reach  of  all  men.  It  is  my  strongest.  It 
assures  me  as  full}'  as  a  voice  could  from  heav- 
en, that  my  principles  are  riot  prejudices.  I 
see  in  the  Bible  my  heart  and  the  world  paint- 
ed to  the  life  ;  and  1  see  just  that  provision 
made,  which  is  competent'to  the  highest  ends 
and  effects  on  this  heart  and  this  world. 

THE  Bible  resembles  an  extensive  and  highly 
cultivated  garden,  where  there  is  a  vast  vari- 
ety and  profusion  of  fruits  and  flowers:  some 
of  which  are  more  essential  or  more  splendid 
than  others  ;  but  there  is  not  a  blade  suffered 
to  groiv  in  it,  which  has  not  its  use  and  beauty 
in  the  system.  Salvation  for  sinners,  is  the 
grand  truth  presented  every  where,  and  in  all 
-points  of  light;  but  the  pure  in  heart  sees  a 
thousand  traits  of  the  divine  character,  of  him- 
self, and  of  the  world — some  striking  and  bold, 
others  cast  as  it  were  into  the  shade,  and  de- 
signed to  be  searched  for  and  examined — some 
direct,  others  by  way  of  intimation  or  infer- 
ence. 

HE,  who  reads  the  Scripture,  only  in  the  trays- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  191 

lation,  is  meanly  prepared  as  a  public  teach- 
er. The  habit  of  reading  the  Scriptures  in 
the  original  throws  a  new  light  and  sense  over 
numberless  passages.  The  original  has,  in- 
deed, been  obtruded  so  frequently,  and  some- 
times so  absurdly,  on  the  hearers,  that  their 
confidence  in  the  translation  has  been  shaken. 
The  judicious  line  of  conduct  herein,  is — To 
think  with  the  wise,  and  talk  with  the  vulgar 
— to  attain,  as  far  as  possible  and  by  all  means, 
the  true  sense  and  force  of  every  passage ; 
and,  wherever  that  differs  from  the  received 
translation,  work  it  in  imperceptibly,  that  the 
hearers  may  be  instructed  while  they  receive  no 
prejudice  against  that  form  in  which  they  en- 
joy the  Scriptures. 

No  man  will  preach  the  Gospel  so  FREELY  as 
the  Scriptures  preach  it,  unless  he  will  submit 
to  talk  like  an  Antinomian,  in  the  estimation  of 
a  great  body  of  Christians;  nor  will  any  man 
preach  it  so  PRACTICALLY  as  the  Scriptures,  un- 
less he  will  submit  to  be  called,  by  as  large  a 
body,  an  Arminian.  Many  think  that  they  find 
a  middle  path:  which  is,  in  fact,  neither  one 
thing  nor  another;  since  it  is  not  the  incom- 
prehensible, but  grand  plan  of  the  Bible.  It  is 
somewhat  of  human  contrivance.  It  savors  of 
human  poverty  and  littleness. 

WERE  the  Scriptures  required  to  supply  a  di- 
rect answer  to  every  question  which  even  a 
sincere  inquirer  might  ask,  it  would  be  imprac- 
ticable. They  form,  even  now,  a  large  volume. 


102  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

The  method  of  instruction  adopted  in  them  is, 
therefore,  this : — The  rule  is  given  :  the  doc- 
trine is  stated  :  examples  are  brought  forward 
—cases  in  point,  which  illustrate  the  rule  and 
the  doctrine :  and  this  is  found  sufficient  for 
every  upright  and  humble  mind. 

THE  simple  and  unprejudiced  study  of  the  Bi- 
ble is  the  death  of  religious  extravagance. — 
Many  read  it  under  a  particular  bias  of  mind. 
They  read  books,  written  by  others  under  the 
same  views.  Their  preaching  and  conversation 
run  in  the  same  channel.  If  they  could  awaken 
themselves  from  this  state,  and  come  to  read 
the  whole  Scripture  for  every  thing  which  they 
could  find  there,  they  would  start  as  from  a 
dream — amazed  at  the  humble,  meek,  forbear- 
ing, holy,  heavenly  character  of  the  simple 
religion  of  the  Scriptures,  to  which,  in  a  great- 
er or  less  degree,  their  eyes  had  been  blinded. 

THE  right  way  of  interpreting  Scripture,  is,  to 
take  it  as  we  find  it,  without  any  attempt  to 
force  it  into  any  particular  system.  Whatev- 
er may  be  fairly  inferred  from  Scripture,  we 
need  not  fear  to  in«ist  on.  Many  passages 
speak  the  language  of  what  is  called  Calvinism, 
and  that  in  almost  the  strongest  terms  :  I  would 
not  have  a  man  clip  and  curtail  these  passages, 
to  bring  them  down  to  some  system  :  let  him 
go  with  them  in  their  free  and  full  sense;  for 
otherwise,  if  he  do  not  absolutely  pervert 
them,  he  will  attenuate  their  enegy.  But,  let 
him  look  at  as  many  more,  which  speak  the 
language  of  Arminianism,  and  let  him  go  all 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  1 93 

the  way  with  these  also.  God  has  been  pleas- 
ed thus  to  state  and  to  leave  the  thing  ;  and 
all  our  attempts  to  distort  it,  one  way  or  the 
other,  are  puny  and  contemptible. 

A  MAN  may  find  much  amusement  in  the  Bible 
— variety  of  prudential  instruction — abundance 
of  sublimity  and  poetry:  but,  if  he  stops  there, 
he  stops  short  of  its  great  end  ;  for,  the  testimo- 
ny of  Jesus  is  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  The  grand 
secret  in  the  study  of  the  Scriptures,  is,  to  dis- 
cover Jesut  Christ  therein,  the  way,  the  truth 
and  the  life. 

IN  reading  the  Scriptures,  we  are  apt  to  think 
God  farther  removed  from  us,  than  from  the 
persons  to  whom  He  spake  therein  :  the  knowl- 
edge of  God  will  rectify  this  error;  as  if  God 
COULD  BE  farther  from  us  than  from  them.  In 
reading  the  Old  Testament  especially,  we  are 
apt  to  think  that  the  things  spoken  there,  in 
the  prophet  Hosea  for  instance,  have  little  re- 
lation to  us  :  the  knowledge  taught  by  Chris- 
tian experience  will  rectify  this  error :  as  if 
religion  were  not  always  the  SAME  SORT  of  trans- 
action between  God  and  the  soul. 

THERE  are  two  different  ways  of  treating  the 
truths  of  the  Gospel — the  SCIENTIFIC  and  the 
SIMPLE.  It  was  seriously  given  me  in  charge, 
when  1  first  entered  into  the  ministry,  by  a  fe- 
male who  attended  my  church,  that  1  should 
study  Baxter's  "  Catholic  Theology."  I  did 
so  :  but  the  best  idea  that  I  acquired  from  this 
17* 


194  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

labor  was,  that  the  most  sagacious  and  subtle 
men  can  make  out  little  beyond  the  plain,  ob- 
vious, and  broad  statement  of  truth  in  the 
Scriptures.  I  should  think  it  a  very  proper 
and  suitable  punishment  for  a  conceited  and 
pragmatical  dogmatist,  to  oblige  him  to  digest 
that  book.  Another  great  truth,  indeed,  we 
may  gather  from  it :  and  that  is,  that  the  in- 
temperate men,  on  either  side,  are  very  little 
aware  of  the  consequences,  which  may  be 
legitimately  drawn  from  their  principles. — 
Even  Dr.  Owen  has  erred.  1  would  not  com- 
pare him  in  this  respect,  with  Baxter;  for  he 
has  handled  his  points  with  far  greater  wisdom 
and  simplicity  :  yet  he  errs  ex  abundanti.  He 
attempts  to  make  out  things  with  more  accura- 
cy, and  clearness,  and  system,  than  the  Bible 
will  warrant.  The  Bible  scorns  to  be  treated 
scientifically.  After  all  your  accurate  state- 
ments, it  will  leave  you  aground.  The  Bible 
does  not  corne  round,  and  ask  our  opinion  of 
its  contents.  It  proposes  to  us  a  constitution 
of  grace,  which  we  are  to  receive,  though  we 
do  not  wholly  comprehend  it.  Numberless 
questions  may  be  started  on  the  various  parts 
of  this  constitution.  Much  of  it  I  cannot  un- 
derstand, even  of  what  respects  myself;  bul  I 
am  called  to  act  on  it.  And  this  is  agreeable 
to  analogy.  My  child  will  ask  me  questions 
on  the  fitness  or  unfitness.of  what  I  enjoin  :  but- 
1  silence  him  r  u  You  are  not  yet  able  to  com- 
prehend this  :  your  business  is,  to  believe  me 
and  obey  me."  But  the  schoolmen  will  not  be 
satisfied  with  this  view  of  thing;5 :  yet  they  can 
make  nothing  out  satisfactorily.  They  have 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  195 

their  de  re,  and  their  de  nomine  ;  but  nothing- 
is  gained  by  these  attempts  at  clearness  and 
nice  distinctions.  These  very  accurate  men, 
who  think  they  adjust  every  thing  with  precis- 
ion, cannot  agree  among  one  another,  and  do 
little  else  than  puzzle  plainer  minds. 


WHATEVER  definitions  men  have  given  of  relig- 
ion, I  can  tind  none  so  accuratly  descriptive  of 
it  as  this — that  it  is  such  a  belief  of  the  Bible 
as  maintains  a  living  influence  on  the  heart. — 
Men  may  speculate,  criticise,  admire,  dispute 
about,  doubt,  or  believe  the  Bible  :  but  the 
RELIGIOUS  MAN  is  such,  because  he  so  believes 
it,  as  to  carry  habitually  a  practical  sense  of 
its  truths  on  his  mind. 


THE  fears  of  the  general  class  of  Christians 
are  concerned  about  the  superstructure  of  re- 
ligion ;  but  those  of  speculative  minds  chiefly 
relate  to  the  foundation.  The  less  thinking 
man  doubts  whether  he  is  on  the  foundation  : 
he  whose  mind  is  of  a  more  intellectual  turn 
doubts  concerning  the  foundation  itself.  I 
have  met  with  many  of  these  speculative  ca- 
ses. Attacks  of  this  nature  are  generally  sud- 
den. A  suspicion  will,  by  surprise,  damp  the 
heart ;  and,  for  a  time,  will  paint  the  Bible  as 
a  fable.  1  have  found  it  useful  on  such  occa- 
sions, to  glance  over  the  whole  thread  of  Scrip- 
ture, The  whole  presented  in  such  a  view, 
brings  hack  the  mind  to  its  proper  tone:  the 
indelible  characters  of  simplicity  and  truth  im- 
press with  irresistible  effect  that  heart,  which 
can  discern  them  as  having  once  felt  them. 


196  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

On  the  Old  and  New  Dispensations. 

THE  Old  and  New  Testaments  contain  but  one 
scheme  of  religion.  Neither  part  of  this 
scheme  can  be  understood  without  the  other; 
and,  therefore  great  errors  have  arisen  from 
separating  them.  They  are  like  the  rolls  on 
which  they  were  anciently  written,  before 
books  of  the  present  form  were  invented.  It 
is  but  one  subject  and  one  system,  from  begin- 
ning to  end  ;  but  the  view  which  we  obtain  of 
it  grows  clearer  and  clearer,  as  we  unwind  the 
roll  that  contains  it. 

THERE  is  one  grand  and  striking  feature  of 
distinction  between  the  spirit  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament dispensation  and  that  of  the  New. 

The  Old  Dispensation  was  a  dispensation  of 
limits,  waymarks,  forms,  and  fashions :  every 
thing  was  weighed  and  measured  :  if  a  man 
did  but  gather  sticks  on  the  Sabbath,  he  was 
to  be  stoned  without  mercy;  if  a  Jew  brought 
an  offering,  it  was  of  no  avail  if  not  presented 
at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  :  the  manner,  the 
time,  the  circumstances  were  all  minutely  in- 
stituted; and  no  devotion  or  piety  of  spirit 
could  exempt  a  man  from  the  yoke  of  all  these 
observances,  for  God  had  appointed  these  as 
the  way  in  which  he  chose  that  a  devout  Jew 
should  express  his  state  of  mind. 

But  the  New  Dispensation  changed  the 
whole  system.  Religion  was  now  to  become 
more  peculiarly  a  spiritual  transaction  between 
God  and  the  soul  5  and  independent,  in  a  higher 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  197 

measure  than  ever  before,  of  all  positive  insti- 
tutions. Us  few  simple  institutions  had  no  fur- 
ther object,  than  the  preservation  of  the  uni- 
ty, order,  soundness,  and  purity  of  the  church 
— in  regard  to  doctrine,  government  and  dis- 
cipline. 

Nor  had  these  appointments  that  character 
of  unaccommodating  inflexibility,  which  mark- 
ed the  institutions  of  the  Old  Dispensation. 
All  nations,  men  of  all  habits  and  manners,  are 
to  drink  life  from  the  beneficent  stream  as  it 
flows.  It  is  to  throw  down  no  obstructions, 
that  are  not  absolutely  incompatible  with  its 
progress.  But  it  is  appointed  to  pervade  eve- 
ry place  which  it  visits.  Some,  it  enters  with- 
out obstruction,  and  passes  directly  through. 
In  some,  it  meets  with  fuounds  and  obstacles ; 
yet  rises  till  it  finds  an  entrance.  Others  are 
so  fenced  and  fortified,  that  it  winds  round 
them  and  flows  forward:  continuing  to  do  so, 
till  it,  at  length,  finds  some  method  of  insinuat- 
ing itself. 

And  thus  the  dispensation  of  grace  in  the 
church  accommodates  itself  to  the  various  tem- 
pers and  habits  which  it  finds  indifferent  ages, 
nations,  and  bodies  of  men  :  it  leaves  in  exist- 
ence numberless  opinions  and  prejudices,  if 
they  are  not  inconsistent  with  its  main  design, 
and  mingles  and  insinuates  itself  among  them. 
It  has  not  limited  Christianity  to  any  one  form 
ci' church  polity,  ordained  and  perfected  in  all 
its  parts  by  divine  authority:  but  Christians 
are  left  to  act  herein  according  to  circumstan- 
ces, and  to  the  exercise  of  sound  discretion  un- 
der those  circumstances. 


198  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

On   Typical   and   Allegorical    Explanations   of 
Scripture. 

IT  might  be  expected,  that,  when  God  had  de- 
termined to  send  his  Son  into  the  world,  there 
would  be  a  train  and  concatenation  of  circum- 
stances preparatory  to  his  coming- — that  the 
history,  which  declared  that  he  was  to  come, 
should  exhibit  many  persons  and  things,  which 
should  form  a  grand  preparation  for  the 
event,  though  not  so  many  as  an  absurd  fancy 
might  imagine. 

There  is  a  certain  class  of  persons  who  wish 
to  rid  themselves  of  the  types.  Sykes  insists 
that  even  the  brazen  serpent  is  called  in  by 
our  Lord  by  way  of  illustration  or.Iy,  and  not 
as  a  designed  type.  Robinson,  of  Cambridge, 
when  he  began  to  verge  toward  Socinianisra, 
began  to  ridicule  the  types;  and  to  find  matter 
of  sport  in  the  pomegrnntes  and  the  bells  of 
the  high  priest's  garment.  At  all  events,  the 
subject  should  not  be  treated  with  levity  and 
irreverence  :  it  deserves  serious  reflection. 

With  respect  to  the  expediency  of  employ- 
ing the  types  much  in  the  pulpit,  that  is  anoth- 
er question.  I  seldom  employ  them.  I  am 
jealous  for  truth  and  its  sanctions.  The  Old 
Dispensation  was  a  typical  dispensation:  but 
the  New  is  a  dispensation  unrolled.  When 
speaking  of  the  typical  dispensation,  we  must 
admire  a  master,  like  St.  Paul.  But  to  u*7 
modesty  becomes  a  duty  in  treating  such  sub- 
jects in  our  ministry.  Remember,  "  This  is 
none  other  but  the  house  of  God  !  and  this  is  the 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  199 

gate  of  heaven !  How  dreadful  if  I  lead  thou- 
sands with  nonsense  ! — if  I  lose  the  opportuni- 
ty of  impressing  solid  truths! — if  I  waste  their 
precious  time  T1 

A  minister  should  say  to  himself:  "  I  would 
labor  to  cut  off  occasions  of  objecting-  to  the 
truth.  I  would  labor  to  grapple  with  men's 
consciences.  I  would  shew  them  that  there  is 
no  strange  twist  in  our  view  of  religion.  I 
must  avoid,  as  much  as  possible,  having  my 
judgment  called  in  question:  many  watch  for 
this,  and  will  avail  themselves  of  any  advan- 
tage. Some  who  hear  me,  are  thus  contin- 
ually seeking  excuses  for  not  listening  to  the 
warnings  and  invitations  of  the  word  :  they  are 
endeavoring  to  get  out  of  our  reach ;  but  I 
would  hold  them  fast  by  such  passages  as, 
What  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his  soul !" 

Many  men  labor  to  make  the  Bible  THEIR 
Bible.  This  is  one  way  of  getting  its  yoke  off 
their  necks.  The  MEANING,  however,  of  the 
Bible  is  the  Bible.  If  I  preach,  then,  on  im- 
puted righteousness,  for  instance,  why  should 
I  preach  from,  the  skies  pour  down  righteousness, 
and  then  anathematize  men  for  not  believing 
the  doctrine,  when  it  is  not  declared  in  the  pas- 
sage, and  there  are  hundreds  of  places  so  ex- 
pressly to  the  point  ? 

Most  of  the  folly  on  this  subject  of  allegor- 
ical interpretation,  has  arisen  from  a  want  of 
holy  awe  on  the  mind.  An  evil  fashion  may 
lead  some  men  into  it ;  and,  so  far,  the  case  is 
somewhat  extenuated.  We  should  ever  re- 
member, however,  that  it  is  a  very  different 


200  REMAINS  OF  MR.CEC1L, 

thing  to  allegorize  the  New  Dispensation  from 
allegorizing1  the  Old :  the  New  is  a  dispensa- 
tion of  substance  and  realities. 

When  a  careless  young  man,  I  remember  to 
have  felt  alarms  in  my  conscience  from  some 
preachers  :  while  others,  from  this  method  of 
treating  their  subjects,  let  me  off  easily.  1 
heard  the  man  as  a  weak  allegorizer  :  I  despis- 
ed him  as  a  foolish  preacher :  till  I  met  with 
some  plain,  simple,  solid  man  who  seized  and 
urged  the  obvious  meaning.  I  shall,  therefore, 
carry  to  my  grave  a  deep  conviction  of  the 
danger  of  entering  far  into  typical  and  allegor- 
ical interpretations. 

Accommodation  of  Scripture,  if  sober,  will 
give  variety.  The  apostles  do  this  so  far  as 
to  shew  that  it  may  have  its  use  and  advantage. 
It  should,  however,  never  be  taken  as  a  ground- 
work, but  emploj^ed  only  in  the  way  of  allu- 
sion. I  may  use  the  passage,  There  is  a  friend 
that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother,  by  way  of  al- 
lusion to  Christ  ;  but  I  cannot  employ  it  as 
the  ground-work  of  a  discourse  on  him. 


On  the  Diversity  of  Character  in  Christians,  and 
on  Correcting  the  Defects  in  our  Character. 

IN  DISCOVERING  AND  COUNTERACTING  THE   DEFECTS 

OF  OUR  OWN  CHARACTER,  it  is  of  chief  importance 
that  we  really  intend  to  ascertain  the  truth. 

The  INTENTION  is  extremely  defective  in  us 
all.  The  man,  who  thinks  he  has  such  honest 
intention,  yet  has  it  very  imperfectly.  He 
says — u  Touch  me :  but  touch  me  like  a  gen- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  201 

tleman.  Do  not  intrude  on  the  delicacies  of 
society."  The  real  meaning  of  which  is,  that 
he  has  no  intention  of  hearing  the  truth  from 
you.  A  man,  who  has  a  wound  to  be  healed, 
'comes  to  the  surgeon  with  such  an  intention  to 
get  it  healed,  that  if  he  suspected  his  skill  or 
his  fidelity  he  would  seek  another. 

Intention,  or  a  man's  really  desiring  to  know 
the  truth  concerning  himself,  would  produce 
ATTENTION.  He  would  soon  find,  that  there  is 
little  close  business  in  a  man,  who  does  not 
withdraw  from  the  world. 

He  will  begin  with  self-suspicion.  "Per- 
haps I  am  such  or  such  a  man.  1  see  defects 
in  all  my  friends,  and  I  must  be  a  madman  not 
to  suppose  that  1  also  have  mine.  I  see  de- 
fects in  my  friends,  which  they  not  only  do  not 
themselves  see:  but  they  will  not  suffer  oth- 
ers to  shew  these  defects  to  them.  1  must, 
therefore,  take  it  for  granted  that  1  am  a  more 
foolish  and  pragmatical  fellow  than  I  can  con- 
ceive." 

If  he  begin  thus,  then  he  will  be  willing  to 
proceed  a  step  further  :  u  Let  me  try  if  I  can- 
not reach  these  defects."  I  have  found  out 
myself  by  seeing  my  picture  in  another  man. 
I  would  choose  men  of  my  own  constitution  : 
other  men  would  give  me  no  proper  picture 
of  myself.  In  such  men,  I  can  see  actions  to 
be  ridiculous  or  absurd,  when  I  could  not  have 
seen  them  to  he  so  in  myself.  We  may  learn 
some  features  of  our  portrait  from  enemies  : 
an  enemy  gives  a  hard  feature  probably,  but 
it  is  often  a  truer  likeness  than  can  be  obtain- 
18 


202  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

ed  from  a  friend.  What  with  your  friend's 
tenderness  for  you,  and  your  own  tenderness 
for  yourself,  you  cannot  get  at  the  true  feature. 
We  should,  moreover,  encourage  our  friends. 
You  cannot,  in  one  case  in  ten,  go  to  a  man  on 
a  business  of  this  nature,  without  offending  him. 
He  will  allege  such  and  such  excuses  for  the 
defect,  and  fritter  it  away  to  nothing.  This 
shews  the  hypocrisy — the  falsehood — the  self- 
love — and  the  flattery  of  the  heart.  This  en- 
deavour to  conceal  or  palliate  defects,  instead 
of  a  desire  to  discover  them,  grows  up  with 
us  from  infancy.  There  is  something  so  de- 
ceitful in  sin  !  A  man  is  brought  to  believe  his 
own  lie  !  He  is  so  accustomed  to  hide  himself 
from  himself,  that  he  is  surprised  when  anoth- 
er detects  and  unmasks  him.  Hazael  verily 
believed  himself  incapable  of  becoming  what 
the  prophet  foretold. 

Many  motives  urge  us  to  attempt  a  rectifica- 
tion of  our  defects.  Consider  the  importance 
of  character  :  he,  who  says  he  cares  not  what 
men  think  of  him,  is  on  a  very  low  form  in  the 
school  of  experience  and  wisdom  :  character 
and  money  effect  almost  every  thing.  It  should 
be  considered,  too,  how  much  we  have  smart- 
ed for  want  of  attending  to  our  defects  :  nine- 
teen out  of  twenty  of  our  smarting  times,  arise 
from  this  cause. 

In  counteracting  our  defects,  however,  we 
should  be  cautious  not  to  blunder  by  imitation 
of  others.  There  are  such  men  in  the  world 
as  sairit-errants.  One  of  these  men  takes  up 
the  history  of  Ignatius  Loyola ;  and  nothing 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  203 

seems  worthy  of  his  endeavor,  but  to  be  just 
such  a  man  in  all  the  extravagancies  of  his 
character  and  conduct.  We  should  search  till 
wo  find  where  our  character  fails,  and  then 
amend  it — not  attempt  to  become  another  man. 

A  WISE  man,  who  is  seriously  concerned  to 
learn  the  truth  respecting  himself,  will  not 
spurn  it  even  from  a  fool.  The  great  men, 
who  kept  fools  in  their  retinue,  learnt  more 
truth  from  them  than  from  their  companions. 
A  real  self-observer  will  ask  whether  there  is 
any  truth  in  what  the  fool  sajrs  of  him.  Nay, 
a  truth,  that  may  be  uttered  in  envy  or  anger, 
will  not  lose  its  weight  with  him.  The  man, 
who  is  determined  to  find  happiness,  must  bear 
to  have  it  even  beaten  into  him.  No  man  ever 
found  it  by  chance,  or  "  yawned  it  into  being 
with  a  wish."  When  I  was  young,  my  moth- 
er had  a  servant  whose  conduct  I  thought  tru- 
ly wise.  A  man  was  hired  to  brew;  and  this 
servant  was  to  watch  his  method,  in  order  to 
learn  his  art.  In  the  course  of  the  process, 
something  was  done  which  she  did  not  under- 
stand. She  asked  him,  and  he  abused  her  with 
the  vilest  epithets  for  her  ignorance  and  stu- 
pidity. My  mother  asked  her  when  she  rela- 
ted it,  how  she  bore  such  abuse.  "  I  would 
be  called,"  said  she,  "  worse  names  a  thousand 
times,  for  the  sake  of  the  information  which  I 
got  out  of  him." 

If  a  man  would  seriously  set  himself  to  this 
work,  he  must  retire  from  the  crowd.  He 
must  not  live  in  a  bustle.  If  he  is  always  driv- 
ing through  the  business  of  the  day,  he  will 


2@4  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

be  so  in  harness  as  not  to  observe  the  road  he 
is  going. 

He  must  place  perfect  standards  before  his 
eyes.  Every  -man  has  his  favorite  notions  ; 
and,  therefore  no  man  is  a  proper  standard. 
The  perfect  standard  is  only  to  found  in  Scrip- 
ture. Elijah  meets  Ahab,  and  holds  up  the 
perfect  standard  before  his  eyes,  till  he  shrinks 
into  himself.*  1  have  found  great  benefit  in 
being  sickened  and  disgusted  with  the  false 
standards  of  men.  I  turn,  with  stronger  con- 
victions, to  the  perfect  standard  of  God's 
Word. 

He  should  also  commune  with  his  own  heart 
upon  his  bed — u  How  did  I  fall,  at  such  or  such 
a  time,  into  my  peculiar  humours  !  Had  any 
other  man  done  so,  I  should  have  lost  my  pa- 
tience with  him." 

Above  all,  he  must  make  his  defects  matter 
of  constant  prayer — Search  me,  O  Got/,  and 
know  my  heart :  try  me,  and  know  my  thoughts : 
and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me,  and 
lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting. 


MEN  are  to  be  estimated,  as  Johnson  says,  by 
the  MASS  OF  CHARACTER.  A  block  of  tin  may 
have  a  grain  of  silver,  but  still  it  is  tin  ;  and  a 
block  of  silver  may  have  an  alloy  of  tin,  but 
still  it  is  silver.  The  mass  of  Elijah's  charac- 
ter was  excellence  ;  yet  he  was  not  without 
the  alloy.  The  mass  of  Jehu's  character  was 
base  ;  yet  he  had  a  portion  of  zeal  which  was  di- 
rected by  God  to  great  ends.  Bad  men  are  made 
*  1  Kings  xviii.  17,  £c. 


REMAINS    OF  MR.  CECIL.  205 

the  same  use  of  as  scaffolds  :  they  are  employed 
as  means  to  erect  a  building,  and  then  are  ta- 
ken down  and  destroyed. 

WE  must  make  great  allowance  for  constitu- 
tion. I  could  name  a  man,  who,  though  a  good 
man,  is  more  unguarded  in  his  tongue  than 
many  immoral  persons  :  shall  1  condemn  him  ? 
he  breaks  down  here,  and  almost  here  only. 
On  the  other  hand,  many  are  so  mild  and  gen- 
tle, as  to  make  one  wonder  how  such  a  char- 
acter could  be  formed  without  true  grace  en- 
tering into  its  composition. 

GOD  has  given  to  every  man  a  peculiar  consti- 
tution. No  man  is  to  say  "  I  am  such  or  such 
a  man,  and  I  can  be  no  other — such  or  such  is 
my  way,  and  I  am  what  God  made  me."  This 
is  true,  in  a  sound  sense  :  but,  in  an  unsound 
sense,  it  has  led  men  foolishly  and  wickedly  to 
charge  their  eccentricities  and  even  theircrimes 
on  God.  It  is  every  man's  duty  to  understand 
his  own  constitution;  and  to  apply  to  it  the 
rein  or  the  spur,  as  it  may  need.  All  men  can- 
not do,  nor  ought  they  to  do,  all  things  in  the 
same  way,  nor  even  the  same  things.  But  there 
are  common  points  of  duty,  on  which  all  men 
of  all  habits  are  to  meet.  The  free  horse  is 
to  be  checked,  perhaps,  up-hill,  and  the  slug- 
gish one  to  be  urged  ;  but  the  same  spirit,which 
would  have  exhausted  itself  before,  shews  it- 
self probably  in  resistance  down-hill,  when  he 
feels  the  breeching  press  upon  himbehind — but 
he  must  LJ  whipped  out  of  his  resistance. 
13* 


206  REMAINS  OF  MR.   CECIL. 

THERE  is  a  large  class  of  Christians,  who  want 
discrimination  in  religion.  They  are  sound 
and  excellent  men,  but  they  are  not  men  of 
deep  experience.  They  are  not  men  of  Owen's, 
Gilpin's,  Rutherford's,  Adams's,  or  Brainerd's 
school.  They  have  a  general,  but  not  a  mi- 
nute acquaintance,  with  the  combat  between 
sin  and  grace  in  the  heart.  I  have  learnt  not 
to  bring  deeply  experimental  subjects  before 
such  persons.  They  cannot  understand  them, 
but  are  likely  to  be  distressed  by  them.  This 
difference  between  persons  of  genuine  piety 
arises  from  constitution — or  from  the  manner  in 
which  the  grace  of  God  tirst  met  them — or  from, 
the  nature  and  degree  of  temptation  through 
which  God  has  led  them.  A  mind  finely  con- 
stituted, or  of  strong  passions — a  mind  roused 
in  its  sins,  rather  than  one  drawn  insensibly — 
a  mind  trained  in  a  severe  school  for  high  ser- 
vices— is  generally  the  subject  of  this  deeply 
interior  aquaintance  with  religion. 

THERE  is  a  great  diversity  of  character  among 
real  Christians.  Education,  constitution,  and 
circumstances  will  fully  explain  this  diversity. 

He  has  seen  but  little  of  life,  who  does  not 
discern  every  where  the  effects  of  EDUCATION 
on  men's  opinions  and  habits  of  thinking.  Two 
children  bring  out  of  the  nursery  that,  which 
displays  itself  throughout  their  lives.  And  who 
is  the  man  that  can  rise  above  his  dispensation, 
and  can  say,  "  You  have  been  teaching  me 
nonsense  ?" 

As  to  CONSTITUTION — look  at  Martin  Luther  : 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  207 

we  may  see  the  man  every  day  :  his  eyes,  and 
nose,  and  mouth  attest  his  character.  Look 
at  Melancthon  :  he  is  like  a  snail  with  his  coup- 
le of  horns  :  he  puts  out  his  horns  and  feels — 
and  feels — and  feels.  No  education  could  have 
rendered  these  two  men  alike.  Their  differ- 
ence began  in  the  womb.  Luther  dashes  in 
saying  his  things :  Melancthon  must  go  round 
about — he  must  consider  what  the  Greek  says, 
and  what  the  Syriac  says.  Some  men  are  born 
minute  men — lexicographers — of  a  German 
character :  they  will  hunt  through  libraries  to 
rectify  a  syllable.  Other  men  are  born  keen 
as  a  razor  :  they  have  a  sharp,  severe,  strong 
acumen  :  they  cut  every  thing  to  pieces  :  their 
minds  are  like  a  case  of  instruments;  touch 
which  you  will,  it  wounds  :  they  crucify  a  mod- 
est man.  Such  men  should  aim  at  a  right 
knowledge  of  character.  If  they  attained  this, 
they  would  find  out  the  sin  that  easily  besets 
them.  The  greater  the  capacity  of  such  men, 
the  greater  their  cruelty.  They  ought  to 
blunt  their  instruments.  They  ought  to  keep 
them  in  a  case.  Other  men  are  ambitious — 
fond  of  power:  pride  and  power  give  a  velo- 
city to  their  motions.  Others  are  born  with 
a  quiet,  retiring  mind.  Some  are  naturally 
fierce,  and  others  naturally  mild  and  placable. 
Men  often  take,  to  themselves  great  credit  for 
what  they  owe  entirely  to  nature.  If  we 
would  judge  rightly,  we  should  see  that  nar- 
rowness or  expansion  of  mind,  niggardliness  or 
generosity,  delicacy  or  boldness,  have  less  of 
merit  or  demerit  than  we  commonly  assign  to 
them. 


208  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

CIRCUMSTANCES,  also,  are  not  sufficiently  ta- 
ken into  the  account,  when  we  estimate  char- 
acter. For  example — we  generally  censure 
the  Reformers  and  Puritans  as  dogmatical,  mo- 
rose, systematic  men.  But,  it  is  easier  to  walk 
on  a  road,  than  to  form  that  road.  Other  men 
labored^  and  we  have  entered  into  their  labors. 
In  a  fine  day,  I  can  walk  abroad  ;  but,  in  a  rough 
and  stormy  day,  I  should  find  it  another  thing 
to  turn  coachman  and  dare  all  weathers.  These 
men  had  to  bear  the  burden  and  heat  of  the 
day  :  they  had  to  fight  against  hard  times  : 
they  had  to  stand  up  against  learning  and  pow- 
er. Their  times  were  not  like  ours :  a  man 
may  now  think  what  he  will,  and  nobody  cares 
what  he  thinks.  A  man  of  that  school  was,  of 
course,  stiff,  rigid,  unyielding.  Tuckney  was 
such  a  man :  Whichcot  was  for  smoothing  things, 
and  walking  abroad.  We  see  circumstances 
operating  in  many  other  ways.  A  minister 
unmarried,  and  the  same  man  married,  are 
very  different  men.  A  minister  in  a  small  par- 
ish, and  the  same  man  in  a  large  sphere  where 
his  sides  are  spurred  and  goaded,  are  very  dif- 
ferent men.  A  minister  on  tenter-hooks — 
harassed — schooled,  and  the  same  man  nursed 
— cherished — put  into  a  hot-house,  are  very  dif- 
ferent men.  Some  of  us  are  hot-house  plants. 
We  grow  tall :  not  better — not  stronger.  Tal- 
ents are  among  the  circumstances  which  form 
the  diversity  of  character.  A  man  of  talents 
feels  his  own  powers,  and  throws  himself  into 
that  line  which  he  can  pursue  with  most  suc- 
cess. Saurin  felt  that  he  could  flourish — light- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  209 

en — thunder — enchant,  like  a  magician.  Ev- 
ery one  should  seriouly  consider,  how  far  his 
talents  and  turn  of  mind  and  circumstances 
drive  him  out  of  the  right  road.  It  is  an  easy 
thing  for  a  man  of  vigor  to  bring  a  quiet  one 
before  his  bar:  and  it  is  easy  for  this  quiet  man 
to  condemn  the  other :  yet  both  may  be  real- 
ly pious  men — serving  God  with  their  best 
powers.  Every  man  has  his  peculiar  gift  of 
God  ;  one  after  this  manner,  and  the  other  after 
that. 


On  the  Fallen  Nature  of  Man. 

I  SEEM  to  acquire  little  new  knowledge  on 
any  subject,  compared  to  that  which  I  acquire 
concerning  man.  This  subject  is  inexhaustible. 
I  have  lately  read  Colquhoun's  Treatise  on 
the  u  Police  of  the  Metropolis,"  and  Barruel's 
u  Memoirs  of  Jacobinism.''  When  we  preach- 
ers draw  pictures  of  human  nature  in  the  pul- 
pit, we  are  told  that  we  calumniate  it.  Ca- 
lumniate it ! — Let  such  ccnsurers  read  these 
writers,  and  confess  that  we  are  novices  in 
painting  the  vices  of  the  heart.  All  of  us 
live  to  make  discoveries  of  the  evils  of  the 
heart — not  of  its  virtues.  All  our  new  knowl- 
edge of  human  nature  is  occupied  with  its  evil. 

BARTHOLEMEW  Fair  is  one  of  the  most  perfect 
exhibitions  of  unrestrained  human  nature  in 
the  whole  world.  The  monkey,  the  tiger, 
the  wolf,  the  hog,  and  the  goat,  are  not  only 
to  be  found  in  their  own,  but  in  human  form; 


210  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

with  all  their  savageness,  brutality,  and  filthi- 
ness.  It  displays  human  nature  in  its  most  de- 
graded, ridiculous,  and  absurd  conditions.  The 
tiger  may  be  seen  in  a  quiescent  state,  if  we 
pass  through  Dyot  street :  he  couches  there  : 
he  blinks.  But,  at  Bartholomew  fair,  he  is 
rampant— vigorous — fierce.  Passing  through 
a  fair  in  a  country  town,  I  witnessed  a  most 
instructive  scene.  Two  withered,  weather- 
beaten  wretches  were  standing  at  the  door  of 
a  show-cart,  and  receiving  two-pences  from 
sweet,  innocent,  ruddy  country  girls,  who  paid 
their  money,  and  dropped  their  curtsies ;  while 
these  wretches  smiled  at  their  simplicity,  and 
clapped  them  on  the  back  as  they  entered  the 
door.  What  a  picture  this  of  Satan  !  He  sets 
off  his  shows,  and  draws  in  heedless  creatures, 
and  takes  from  them  every  thing  they  hare 
good  about  them  !  There  was  a  fellow  dres- 
sed out  as  a  zany,  with  a  hump  back  and  a 
hump  belly,  a  lengthened  nose,  and  a  length- 
ened chin.  To  what  a  depth  of  degradation 
must  human  nature  be  sunk,  to  seek  such  re- 
sources! I  derived  more  instruction  from  this 
scene,  than  I  could  have  done  from  many  elab- 
orate theological  treatises. 

VIEW  man  on  whatever  side  we  can — in  his 
sensualities,  or  in  his  ferocities — in  the  sins  of 
his  flesh,  or  in  the  sins  of  his  spirit:  catch  him 
when  and  where  you  will — his  condition  is  de- 
plorable. While  he  is  sunk  in  the  mass  him- 
self, he  has  no  perception  of  his  state  :  but, 
when  he  begins  to  emerge,  he  looks  down 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  211 

with  amazement.  He  sees  but  little,  howev- 
er, of  its  abomination ;  because  he  has  still  an 
affinity  with  the  evil. 

HUMAN  nature  is  like  the  sea,  which  gains  by 
the  flow  of  the  tide  in  one  place,  what  it  has 
lost  by  the  ebb  in  another.  A  man  may  acqui- 
esce in  the  method  which  God  takes  to  morti- 
fy his  pride  ;  but  he  is  in  danger  of  growing 
proud  of  the  mortification  :  and  so  in  other  ca- 
ses. 


On  the  Need  of  Grace. 

THERE  is  something  so  remarkable  in  the  genius 
and  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  that  it  is  not  to  be  un- 
derstood by  any  force  of  speculation  and  inves- 
tigation !  Baxter  attempted  this  method,  and 
found  it  vain.  The  state  of  the  heart  has  the 
chief  influence,  in  the  search  after  truth.  Hu- 
mility, contrition,  simplicity,  sanctity — these 
are  the  handmaids  of  the  understanding  in  the 
investigation  of  religion. 

How  is  it  that  some  men  labor  in  divine  things 
night  and  day,  but  labor  in  vain  ?  How  is  it 
that  men  can  turn  over  the  Bible  from  end  to 
end,  to  support  errors  and  heresies — absurdities 
and  blasphemies  ?  They  take  not  the  SPIRIT 
with  the  WORD.  A  spiritual  understanding  must 
be  given — a  gracious  perception — a  right  taste. 

"  A  VERY  extraordinary  thing,"  said  one,  "  if  I, 
who  have  read  the  Bible  over  and  over  in  the 


212  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

original  languages — have  studied  it  day  and 
night — and  have  written  criticisms  and  com- 
ments on  it :  a  very  extraordinary  thing  that  I 
should  not  be  able  to  discover  that  meaning  in 
the  Scriptures,  which  is  said  to  be  so  plain  that 
a  way-faring  man  though  a  fool  shall  not  err  in  dis- 
covering it !"  And  so  it  is  extraordinary  till  we 
open  this  Bible ;  and  there  we  see  the  fact  ex- 
plained. The  man  who  approaches  the  word 
of  God  in  his  own  wisdom,  shall  not  find  what 
the  fool  shall  discover  under  the  teaching  of 
divine  wisdom:  For  it  is  written,  I  will  destroy 
the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will  bring  to  nothing 
the  understanding  of  the  prudent — and  God  hath 
chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound 
the  wise. 

GOD,  in  his  providence,  seems  to  make  little 
account  of  the  measures  and  contrivances  of 
men,  in  accomplishing  his  designs.  He  will  do 
the  work,  and  his  hand  will  be  seen  in  the  do- 
ing of  it.  We  are  obliged  to  wait  for  the  tide. 
When  that  flows,  and  the  wind  sets  in  fair,  let 
us  hoist  the  sails.  When  the  tide  has  left  a 
ship  on  the  beach,  an  army  may  attempt  to 
move  it  in  vain ;  but  when  she  is  floated  by 
the  water,  a  small  force  moves  her.  We  must 
wait  for  openings  in  Providence.  In  this  light 
I  view  the  darkness  of  the  heathen  world.  Let 
us  follow  every  apparent  leading  of  Provi- 
dence, in  our  endeavors  to  communicte  light 
to  the  heathen ;  but,  still,  the  opening  and  the 
whole  work  must  be  of  God.  Thousands,  in- 
dead,  hear  the  Gospel,  who  are  no  more  im- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  213 

led  by  it  than  though  they  were  heathens. 
The  minds  of  some  men  will  stand,  as  it  were, 
a  regular  blockade,  and  yet  yield  to  a  side-blow 
— sit  unchanged  under  a  searching  ministry, 
and  yet  fall  beneath  a  casual  word.  I  know 
such  cases.  We  might  account,  indeed,  for 
them,  in  some  measure,  as  philosophers.  The 
mind,  which  plants  itself  against  and  repels.the 
formal  and  avowed  attacks  of  the  preacher, 
may  be  surprised  by  a  hint  addressed,  perhaps, 
to  another:  yet,  after  all,  the  whole  work  is 
of  God.  We  may  make  very  little,  therefore, 
of  the  vehicle.  The  gospel — the  wants  of  men 
— the  indisposition  of  the  heart — and  the 
mighty  power  of  God — are  always  and  univer- 
sally the  same.  By  whatever  vehicle  God  con- 
veys that  mighty  energy,  which  disposes  man 
to  find  the  relief  of  his  wants  in  the  Gospel,  HE 
still  is  the  worker.  It  is  a, divine  operation  of 
God's  Holy  Spirit.  If  God  would  raise  up  hea- 
then princes  with  the  spirit  of  Peter  the  Great, 
or  Kouli  Khan,  and  send  them  forth  under  the 
the  powerful  influence  of  Christianity  to  pros- 
elyte their  subjects,  we  might  expect  the  end 
to  be  accomplished :  but  this  is  a  scheme  suit- 
ed to  our  littleness  and  not  to  Him,  whose 
thoughts  are  not  ns  our  thoughts,  and  whose  ways 
are  not  as  our  ways. 

A  LADY  proposed  to  me  a  case,  which  seemed 
to  her  to  decide  against  those  views  of  religion 
called  evangelical.  She  knew  a  most  amiable 
girl,  who  was  respectful  and  attentive  to  her 
parents,  and  engaging  and  lovely  to  all  connect- 
19 


214  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

ed  with  her:  who  had,  however,  no  objection 
to  seeing  a  play ;  and  had  certainly  nothing  of 
that,  which  she  knew  I  should  call  religion: 
but  she  asked  if  I  could  believe  that  God  would 
condemn  such  a  character  to  everlasting  mis- 
ery. Many  persons  view  things  in  this  way. 
They  set  themselves  up  to  dictate  to  God  what 
should  be  done,  on  points  which  he  only  can 
determine.  If  these  persons  are  ever  cured 
of  this  evil,  it  must  probably  be  in  some  such 
way  as  that  by  which  it  pleased  God  to  teach 
Job.  Job  could  assert  his  integrity  and  his 
character  against  the  arguments  of  his  friends  ; 
but,  when  God  asked  Where  wast  thou^  when  I 
laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth  ?  Job  prostrates 
his  soul  with  this  declaration — /  have  heard  of 
thee  with  the  hearing  of  the  ear,  but  now  mine  eye 
seeth  thee.  Wherefore  I  abhor  myself \  and  repent 
in  dust  and  ashes. 

EVERY  thinking  man  will  look  round  him,  when 
he  reflects  on  his  situation  in  this  world ;  and 
will  ask,  "  What  will  meet  my  case  ?  What  is 
it  that  I  want?  What  will  satisfy  me  ?  1  look 
at  the  RICH — and  I  see  Ahab,  in  the  midst  of  all 
his  riches,  sick  at  heart  for  a  garden  of  herbs  ! 
I  see  Dives,  after  all  his  wealth,  lifting  up  his 
eyes  in  hell,  and  begging  for  a  drop  of  water 
to  cool  the  rage  of  his  sufferings !  I  see  the 
rich  fool  summoned  away,  in  the  very  moment 
when  he  was  exulting  in  his  hoards !  If  I  look 
at  the  WISE — I  see  Solomon,  with  all  his  wis- 
dom, acting  like  a  fool ;  and  I  know,  that,  if  I 
possessed  all  his  wisdom,  were  I  left  to  myself 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  215 

I  should  act  as  he  did.  I  see  Ahithophel,  with 
all  his  policy,  hanging  himself  for  vexation  !  If 
I  turn  to  men  of  PLEASURE — I  see  that  the  very 
sum  of  all  pleasure  is,  that  it  is  Satan's  bed  in- 
to which  he  casts  his  slaves  !  1  see  Esau  selling 
his  birth-right  for  a  mess  of  pottage  !  1  see  Sol- 
omon, after  all  his  enjoyments,  leaving  his  name 
a  scandal  to  the  church  to  the  latest  age  !  If  I 
think  of  HONOR — take  a  walk  in  Westminster 
Abbey — there  is  an  end  of  all  inquiry.  There 
I  walk  among  the  mighty  dead!  There  is  the 
winding  up  of  human  glory  !  And  what  remains 
of  the  greatest  man  of  my  country? — A  boast- 
ing epitaph!  None  of  these  things,  then,  can 
satisfy  me !  I  must  meet  death — I  must  meet 
judgment — I  must  meet  God — I  must  meet 
eternity  !" 


On  the  Occasions  of  Enmity  against  Christianity. 

THE  cause  of  enmity  against  real  Christianity 
is  in  the  heart.  The  angel  Gabriel  might  ex- 
hibit the  truth,  but  the  heart  would  rise  in  en- 
mity. To  suppose  that  there  is  any  way  of 
preaching  the  cross  so  as  not  to  offend  the 
world,  is  to  know  nothing  of  the  subject. 

There  are  many  occasions,  however,  of  cal- 
ling forth  this  enmity.  Any  man,  who  should 
bleed  me,  would  put  me  to  pain  ;  but  he  would 
greatly  aggravate  my  pain,  if  he  rudely  tore 
my  skin.  Occasions  may  render  the  reception 
of  that  truth  morally  impossible,  which,  under 
the  most  favorable  circumstances,  is  received 
with  difficulty. 

IGNORANCE,  in  ministers,  is  an  occasion  of  ex- 


216  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL, 

citing-  enmity  against  Christianity.  A  man  may 
betray  ignorance  on  almost  every  subject,  ex- 
cept the  way  of  salvation.  But  if  others  see 
him  to  be  a  fool  off  his  own  ground,  they  will 
think  him  a  fool  on  that  ground.  It  is  a  great 
error  to  rail  against  human  learning,  so  as  to 
imply  an  undervaluing  of  knowledge.  A  man 
may  have  little  of  what  is  called  learning, 
but  he  must  have  knowledge.  Bunyan  was 
such  a  man. 

Religious  profession  was,  at  first  a  CONFLICT 
— a  SACRIFICE  :  now  it  is  become  a  TRADE.  The 
world  sees  this  spirit  pervade  many  men  :  and 
it  is  a  great  occasion  of  enmity.  Men  of  learn- 
ing and  character  have  confirmed  this  impres- 
sion :  they  have  brought  out  this  mischief,  and 
exhibited  it  to  the  world.  Let  any  man  look 
into  Warburton's  u  Doctrine  of  Grace,"  and  he 
may  sit  down  and  wonder  that  God  should 
suffer  such  occasions  of  enmity  to  arise. 

FANATICAL  TIMES  furnish  another  occasion. 
The  days  of  Cromwell,  for  instance.  The 
great  enemy  of  godliness  will  never  want  in- 
struments to  make  the  best  of  such  subjects  of 
ridicule.  As  long  as  such  a  book  as  Butler's 
Hudibras  is  in  the  world,  it  will  supply  occa- 
sions of  enmity  against  real  religion. 

An  UNHOLY,    INSOLENT    PROFESSOR    OF  RELIGION 

occasions  enmity.  He  scorns  and  insults  man- 
kind. His  spirit  is  such  as  to  give  them  occa- 
sion of  contemning  the  truth  which  he  pro- 
fesses. The  world  will  allow  some  men  to  call 
it  to  account:  they  will  feel  a  weight  of  char- 
acter in  a  holy  and  just  man. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  217 

ECCENTRICITY,  in  religious  men,  is  another 
occasion  of  enmity.  Ask  an  eccentric  man,  a 
question  :  he  will  stare  in  your  face,  and  look 
very  spiritual.  I  knew  one  of  these  men  who 
called  oat  to  a  farmer  as  he  was  passing1,  "  Far- 
mer !  what  do  you  know  of  Jesus  Christ  ?" 
Much  spiritual  pride  lurks  under  this  conduct. 
There  is  want  of  breeding1  and  good  sense. 
The  world  is  led  to  form  wrong  associations 
by  such  characters  :  "  Religion  makes  a  man 
a  fool,  or  mad  :  therefore  1  will  not  become 
religious." 

INJUDICIOUS  PREACHING  increases  the  offence 
of  the  cross.  Strange  interpretations  of  Scrip- 
ture— ludicrous  comparisons — silly  stories — 
talking  without  thinking  : — these  are  occasions 
of  enmity. 

The  LOOSE  AND  INDISCREET  CONDUCT  of  profeSS- 

ing  Christians,  particularly  of  ministers,  is  a- 
nother  occasion.  The  world  looks  at  ministers 
out  of  the  pulpit,  to  know  what  they  mean 
when  in  it. 

An  OSTENTATIOUS  SPIRIT  in  a  professor  of  reli- 
gion does  great  injury — that  giving  out  that  he 
is  some  great  one.  Even  a  child  will  often  de- 
tect this  spirit,  when  we  think  no  one  discov- 
ers it. 

The  MANNER  OF  CONDUCTING  THE  DEVOTIONAL 

PART  OF  PUBLIC  SERVICE  is  sometimes  offensive. 
It  is  as  much  as  to  sa}',  "  we  mean  nothing  by 
this  service.*  Have  patience,  and  you  shall 
hear  me  !" 

SLIGHTING  THE  OFFENCE  OF  IRREGULARITY  has 
*  Exodus  xii.  26. 
19* 


218  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

done  much  harm.  It  was  a  wise  reply  of  a 
Spanish  minister  to  his  king  :  "  Omit  this  af- 
fair :  it  is  but  a  ceremony  !"  u  A  ceremony ! 
Why  the  King  is  a  ceremony  !" 

Good  men  have  given  occasion  of  offence  by 
MAINTAINING  SUSPICIOUS  CONNEXIONS.  There  is  a 
wide  difference  between  my  not  harassing  and 
exposing  a  doubtful  character,  and  my  indors- 
ing and  authenticating  him. 

CONTEMPT  OF  MEN'S  PREJUDICES  OF  EDUCATION 
will  offend.  It  was  not  thus  with  St.  Paul  :  / 
am  made  all  things  to  all  men,  that  I  might  by  all 
means  save  some. 

A  WANT  OF  THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  CROSS  IN  ITS  PRO- 
FESSORS increases  the  offence  of  the  cross — 
that  humility,  patience,  and  love  to  souls,  which 
animated  Christ  when  he  offered  himself  on 
the  cross  for  the  sins  of  the  world. 

These  are  some  of  the  stumbling-blocks  in 
the  way  of  the  world.  And  wo  unto  the  world) 
says  our  Lord,  because  of  offences  !  for  it  must 
needs  be  that  offences  come,  but  wo  unto  him  by 
whom  the  offence  cometh !  Every  man,  who  is 
zealous  for  the  diffusion  of  true  religion,  should 
keep  his  eye  on  all  occasions  of  offence,  since 
religion,  of  itself  and  in  its  own  native  beauty, 
has  to  encounter  the  natural  enmity  of  the  de- 
generate heart. 


On  Religious  Retirement. 

IT  is  difficult  to  speak  on  the  subject  of  RELI- 
GIOUS RETIREMENT.  I  am  fully  persuaded  that 
most  religious  tradesmen  are  defective  in  this 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  219 

duty,  those  especially  in  this  great  city.  I  tell 
every  one  of  them  so  with  whom  1  am  inti- 
mately acquainted,  and  they  all  contest  the 
point  with  me. 

Yet  there  are  some  considerations,  which, 
in  my  own  private  judgment  concerning  the 
thing,  lead  me  to  think  that  the  religion  of  a 
great  city  is  to  he  viewed  in  an  aspect  of  its  own. 
I  say  not  this  to  those  men  whom  I  see  endan- 
gered by  the  spirit  of  such  "a  place.  Give  tuem 
an  inch,  and  they  will  take  an  ell.  But  I  learn 
from  it  to  aim  at  possibilities,  and  not  to  bend 
the  bow  till  it  breaks. 

I  say,  every  where  and  to  all — u  You  must 
hold  intercourse  With  God,  or  your  soul  will 
die.  You  must  walk  with  God,  or  Satan  will 
walk  with  you.  You  must  grow  in  grace,  or 
you  will  lose  it:  and  you  cannot  do  this,  but 
by  appropriating  to  this  object  a  due  portion 
of  your  time,  and  diligently  employing  suitable 
means."  But,  having  said  this,  I  leave  it.  I 
cannot  limit  and  define  to  such  men  the  exact 
way  in  which  they  must  apply  these  principles, 
but  the  principles  themselves  I  insist  on.  What 
I  ought  to  do  myself  under  my  circumstances, 
I  know  :  and  what  I  ought  to  do  were  J  in  trade, 
I  seem  now  to  know  :  but  what  I  really  should 
do  were  1  in  trade,  I  know  not:  and,  because 
I  know  it  not,  1  am  afraid,  in  telling  another 
man  precisely  how  he  ought  to  apply  this  prin- 
ciple, that  1  should  act  hypocritically  and  phar- 
isaically. Stated  seasons  of  retirement  ought 
to  be  appointed  and  religiously  observed,  but 
the  time  and  the  measure  of  this  retirement 


220  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

must  be  left  to  a  man's  own  judgment  and  con- 
science. 

1  am  restrained  from  dogmatizing  on  this 
subject,  by  reflecting  on  the  sort  of  religion 
which  seems  in  fact  to  be  best  suited  to  human 
nature  itself,  and  especially  to  human  nature 
harassed,  worried,  loaded,  and  urged  as  it  is  in 
this  great  city. 

But  1  am  restrained  also  by  another  consid- 
eration.— Difference  of  character  seems  to 
stamp  a  holy  variety  on  the  operation  of  re- 
ligious principle.  Some  men  live  in  a  spirit 
of  prayer,  who  are  scarcely  able  to  fix  them- 
selves steadily  to  the  solemn  act  of  prayer. — 
Our  characters  are  so  much  our  own,  that  if  a 
man  were  to  come  into  my  family  in  order  to 
form  himself  on  my  model,  and  to  imitate  me 
for  a  month,  it  might  seriously  injure  him.  I 
have  a  favorite  walk  of  twenty  steps  in  my 
study  and  chamber  :  that  walk  is  my  oratory  : 
but,  if  another  man  were  obliged  to  walk  as 
be  prayed,  it  is  very  probable  he  could  not 
pray  at  all. 

In  defining  the  operation  of  religious  princi- 
ple, I  am  afraid  of  becoming  an  Albert  Durer. 
Albert  Durer  gave  rules  for  forming  the  per- 
fect figure  of  a  man.  He  marked  and  defined 
all  the  relations  and  proportions.  Albert  Du- 
rer's  man  became  the  model  of  perfection  in 
every  Academy  in  Europe  :  and  now  every 
Academy  in  Europe  has  abandoned  it,  because 
no  such  figure  was  ever  found  in  nature.  1  am 
afraid  of  reducing  the  variety,  which,  to  a  cer- 
tain degree,  may  be  of  God's  own  forming,  to 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  221 

my  notion  of  perfection.  "  You  must  maintain 
and  cultivate  a  spirit  of  devotion" — I  say  to  all : 
u  but  be  ye  judges,  as  conscientious  men,  of 
the  particular  means  suited  to  your  circumstan- 
ces." 

The  SPIRIT  of  devotion  should  be  our  great 
aim.  We  are,  indeed,  buried  in  sense,  and 
cannot  possibly  attain  or  improve  this  spirit, 
but  by  proper  means  :  yet  these  means  are 
to  be  adapted  and  varied  to  character  and  sit- 
uation. 

"  I  MUST  walk  with  God.  In  some  way  or 
other,  whatever  be  my  character  or  profes- 
sion, 1  MUST  acquire  the  holy  habit  of  connect- 
ing every  thing  that  passes  in  my  house  and 
affairs,  with  God.  If  sickness  or  health  visit 
my  family,  my  eye  must  see  and  my  heart  must 
acknowledge  the  hand  of  God  therein.  Wheth- 
er my  affairs  move  on  smoothly  or  ruggedly, 
God  must  be  acknowledged  in  them.  If  I  go 
out  of  my  house  or  come  in  to  it,  I  must  go  out 
and  come  in  as  under  the  eye  of  God.  If  I  am 
occupied  in  business  all  day  long,  I  must  still 
have  the  glory  of  God  in  my  view.  If  I  have 
any  affair  to  transact  with  another,  I  must  pray 
that  God  would  be  with  us  in  that  affair,  lest 
we  should  blunder,  and  injure  and  ruin  each 
other." 

This  is  the  language  of  a  real  Christian.  But 
instead  of  such  a  spirit  as  this  among  the  great 
body  of  tradesmen  professing  themselves  reli- 
gious— what  do  we  see  but  a  driving,  impetu- 
ous pursuit  of  the  world  ! — and,  in  this  pur- 
suit, not  seldom — mean,  low,  suspicious,  yeaf 
immoral  practices! 


222  REMAINS  OF  MR. 

Yet  I  once  went  to  a  friend  for  the  express 
purpose  of  calling  him  out  into  the  world.  I 
said  to  him — u  It  is  your  duty  to  accept  the 
loan  often  thousand  pounds,  and  to  push  your-* 
self  forward  into  an  ampler  sphere."  But  he 
was  a  rare  character :  and  his  case  was  rare. 
His  employers  had  said,  "We  are  ashamed 
you  should  remain  so  long  a  servant  in  our 
house,  with  the  whole  weight  of  affairs  on  you. 
We  wish  you  to  enter  as  a  principal  with  us, 
and  will  advance  you  ten  thousand  pounds.  It 
is  the  custom  ofthe  city — it  isyourdue — we  are 
dissatisfied  to  see  you  in  your  present  sphere." 
I  assured  him  that  it  appeared  to  me  to  be  his 
duty  to  accede  to  the  proposal.  But  I  did  not 
prevail.  He  said — u  Sir,  1  have  often  heard 
from  3rou  that  it  is  no  easy  thing  to  get  to  heav- 
en. I  have  often  heard  from  you  that  it  is  no 
easy  thing  to  master  the  world.  I  have  every 
thing  I  wish.  More  would  cucumber  me-~ 
increase  my  difficulties — and  endanger  me." 

SOLITUDE  shews  us  what  we  should  he  :  Socie- 
ty shews  us  what  we  are.  Yet,  in  the  theory, 
solitude  shews  us  our  true  character  better 
than  Society.  A  man  in  his  closet  will  find 
nature  putting  herself  forth  in  actings,  which 
the  presence  of  others  would  restrain  him  from 
bringing  into  real  effect.  She  schemes  and  she 
wishes,  here,  without  reserve.  She  is  pure 
nature.  An  enlightened  and  vigilant  self-ob- 
server is  surprised  and  alarmed.  He  puts  him- 
self on  his  guard.  He  goes  forth  armed  into 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  223 

the  world.  But  society  shews  him  that  nature 
is  practically  evil.  The  circumstances  of  the 
day  as  they  arise  carry  him  away.  If  he  could 
abstract  himself,  and  follow  the  actings  of  his 
own  mind  with  an  impartial  eye,  he  could  not 
believe  himself  to  be  the  man  who  had  enter- 
ed into  the  world  with  such  holy  resolutions. 

RECOLLECTION  is  the  life  of  religion.  The 
Christian  wants  to  know  no  new  thing,  but  to 
have  his  heart  elevated  more  above  the  world 
by  secluding  himself  from  it  as  much  as  his 
duties  will  allow,  that  religion  may  effect  this 
its  great  end  by  bringing  its  sublime  hopes  and 
prospects  into  more  steady  action  on  the  mind. 

I  KNOW  not  how  it  is,  that  some  Christians  can. 
make  so  little  of  recollection  and  retirement, 
I  find  the  spirit  of  the  world  a  strong  assimila- 
ting principle.  I  find  it  hurrying  my  mind 
away  in  its  vortex,  and  sinking  me  among  the 
dregs  and  filth  of  carnal  nature.  Even  my  min- 
isterial employments  would  degenerate  into  a 
mere  following  of  my  trade  and  crying  of  my 
wares.  I  am  obliged  to  withdraw  myself  reg- 
ularly, and  to  say  to  my  heart  "  What  are  you 
doing  ? — Where  are  you  ?" 

On  a  Spiritual  Mind. 

DR.  OWEN  says,  if  a«  man  of  a  carnal  mind  is 
brought  into  a  large  company,  he  will  have 
much  to  do  :  if  into  a  company  of  Christians, 
he  will  feel  little  interest :  if  into  a  smaller 


224  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

company  engaged  in  reiigious  exercises^  he 
will  reel  still  less:  but  if  taken  into  a  closet 
and  forced  to  meditate  on  God  and  eternity, 
this  will  be  insupportable  ! 

The  spiritual  man  is  born,  as  it  were,  into  a 
new  world.  He  has  a  new  taste.  He  savors 
the  things  of  the  Spirit.  He  turns  to  God,  as 
the  needle  to  the  pole. 

This  is  a  subject  of  which  many  can  under- 
stand but  little.  They  want  spiritual  taste. 
Nay  they  account  it  enthusiasm.  Bishop  Hors- 
ley  will  go  all  the  way  with  Christians  into 
their  principles  :  but  he  thinks  the  feelings 
and  desires  of  a  spiritual  mind  enthusiastical. 

There  are  various  CHARACTERISTICS 
of  a  spiritual  mind. 

SELF  LOATHING  is  a  characterestic  of  such  a 
mind.  The  axe  is  laid  to  the  root  of  a  vain- 
glorious spirit. 

It  maintains,  too,  A  WALK  AND  CONVERSE  WITH 
GUD  Enoch  walked  with,  God.  There  is  a 
transaction  between  God  and  the  spiritual 
mind  :  if  the  man  feels  dead  and  heartless,  that 
is  matter  of  complaint  to  God.  He  looks  to  God 
for  wisdom  for  the  day — for  the  hour— for  the 
business  in  hand. 

A  spiritual  mind  REFERS  ITS  AFFAIRS  TO  GOD  ! 
u  Let  God's  will  be  obeyed  by  me  in  this  af- 
fair. His  way  may  differ  from  that  which  1 
should  choose  !  but  let  it  be  so:  Surely,  I  have 
behaved  and  quieted  myself  as  a  child  that  is  wean- 
ed of  his  mother :  my  soul  is  even  as  a  weaned 

ditto." 

A  spiritual  mind  has  something  of  the  mi- 


REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECIL.  225 

ture  of  the  SENSITIVE  PLANT.  u  I  shall  smart  if 
I  touch  this  or  that."  There  is  a  holy  shrink- 
ing away  from  evil. 

A  spiritual  mind  enjoys,  at  times,  the  INFLUX 

OF  A  HOLY    JOY  AND  SATISFACTION,  which  SUrpHS- 

es  even  itself.  When  bereaved  of  creature 
comforts,  it  can  sometimes  find  such  a  repose 
in  Christ  and  his  promises,  that  the  man  can 
say,  "  Well !  it  is  enough  :  let  God  take  from 
me  what  else  he  pleases  !" 

A  spiritual  mind  is  a  MORTIFIED  mind.  The 
church  of  Rome  talks  much  of  mortification, 
but  her  mortification  is  not  radical  and  spirit- 
ual. Simon  Stylites  will  willingly  mortify  him- 
self on  his  pillar,  if  he  can  bring  people  around 
him  to  pray  to  him  to  pray  for  them.  But 
the  spiritual  mind  must  mortify  itself  in  what- 
ever would  retard  its  ascent  toward  heaven: 
it  must  rise  on  the  wings  of  faith,  and  hope, 
and  love. 

A  spiritual  mind  is  an  INGENUOUS  mind.  There 
is  a  sort  of  hypocrisy  in  us  all.  We  are  not 
quite  stripped  of  all  disguise.  One  man  wraps 
round  him  a  covering  of  one  kind,  and  another 
of  another.  They,  who  think  they  do  not  this, 
yet  do  it  though  they  know  it  not. 

Yet  this  spiritual  mind  is  a  SUBLIME  mind.  It 
has  a  vast  and  extended  view.  It  has  seen  the 
glory  and  beauty  of  Christ,  and  cannot  there- 
fore admire  the  goodly  buildings  of  the  temple  : 
as  Christ,  says  Fenelon,  had  seen  his  Father's 
House,  and  could  not  therefore  be  taken  with 
the  glory  of  the  earthly  structure  ! 

I  would  urge  young  persons,  when  they  are 
20 


226  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

staggered  by  the  conversation  of  people  of  the 
world,  to  dwell  on  the  characteristics  of  a 
spiritual  mind.  u  If  you  cannot  answer  their 
arguments,  yet  mark  their  spirit :  and  mark 
what  a  contrary  spirit  that  is  which  you  are 
called  to  cultivate." 

There  are  various  MEANS  of  maintaining 
and  promoting  a  spiritual  mind.  Beware  of 
saying  concerning  this  or  that  evil.  Is  it  not  a 
lit  tie  one  ?  Much  depends  on  mortifying  the 
bodjr.  There  are  silent  marches  which  the 
flesh  will  steal  on  us: — the  temper  is  too  apt 
to  rise  :  the  tongue  will  let  itself  loose  :  the 
imagination,  if  liberty  is  given  to  it,  will  hurry 
us  away.  Vain  company  will  injure  the  mind  : 
carnal  professors  of  religion  especially  will 
lower  its  tone  :  we  catch  a  contagion  from 
such  men.  Misemployment  of  time  is  injurious 
to  the  mind  :  when  reflecting,  in  illness,  on  my 
past  years,  I  have  looked  back  with  self-re- 
proach on  days  spent  in  my  study  :  I  was  wad- 
ing through  history,  .and  poetry,  and  monthly 
journals;  but  I  was  in  my  study!  Another 
man's  trifling  is  notorious  to  all  observers  :  but 
what  am  /  doing? — Nothing,  perhaps,  that  has 
a  reference  to  the  spiritual  good  of  my  con- 
gregation !  1  do  not  speak  against  a  chastized 
attention  to  literature,  but  the  abuse  of  it. 
Avoid  all  idleness:  exercise  thyself  unto  godli- 
ness: plan  for  God.  Beware  of  temptation: 
the  mind,  which  has  dwelt  on  sinful  objects, 
will  be  in  darkness  for  days.  Associate  with 
spiritually-minded  men  :  the  very  sight  of  a 
good  man,  though  he  says  nothing,  will  re- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  227 

fresh  the  soul.  Contemplate  Christ :  be  much 
in  retirement  and  prayer:  study  the  hanor  and 
glory  of  your  Master. 

On  Declension  in  Religion. 

A  CHRISTIAN  may  decline  far*  in  religion,  with- 
out being  suspected.  He  may  maintain  ap- 
pearances. Every  thing  seems  to  others  to  go 
on  well.  He  suspects  himself:  for  it  requires 
great  labor  to  maintain  appearances  :  especial- 
ly in  a  minister.  Discerning  hearers  will, 
however,  often  detect  such  declensions.  He 
talks  over  his  old  matters.  He  says  his  things, 
but  in  a  cold  and  unfeeling  manner.  He  is 
sound,  indeed,  in  doctrine  ;  perhaps  more  sound 
than  before ;  for  there  is  a  great  tendency  to 
soundness  of  doctrine,  when  appearances  are 
to  be  kept  up  in  a  declining  state  of  the  heart. 

Where  a  man  has  real  grace,  it  may  be  part 
of  a  dispensation  toward  him  that  he  is  suffered 
to  decline.  He  walked  carelessly.  He  was 
left  to  decline,  that  he  might  be  brought  to 
feel  his  need  of  vigilance.  If  he  is  indulging 
a  besetting  sin,  it  may  please  God  to  expose 
him,  especially  if  he  is  a  high  spirited  man, 
that  he  may  hang  down  his  head  as  long  as  he 
lives.  He  acted  thus  toward  David  and  Heze- 
kiah.  But  this  is  pulling  down,  in  order  to 
build  up  again. 

The  CAUSES  of  a  decline  in  religion  should 
be  remarked. 

The  world  has  always  much  to  do  in  relig- 
>us  declension.  A  minister  is  tempted,  per- 


~ 


228  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

haps,  to  sacrifice  every  thing  to  a  name.  If 
any  APPETITE  is  suffered  to  prevail,  it  will  stu- 
pify  the  mind  :  religion  is  an  abstract  and  ele- 
vated affair  :  The  way  of  life  is  above  to  ike  wise, 
to  depart  from  hell  beneath.  KEEPING  ON  GOOD 
TERMS  WITH  THOSE  WHO  RESPECT  us,  is  a  snare. 
A  SPECULATIVE  TURN  OF  MIND  is  a  snare  :  it 
leads  to  that  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  which  de- 
parts from  the  living  God.  VAIN  CONFIDENCE 
thinks  himself  in  no  danger:  he  knows  the 
truth:  he  can  dispute  for  the  truth:  u  What 
should  we  fear?"  Why.  that  we  have  no  fear. 
TRIFLING  WITH  CONSCIENCE,  is  a  snare  :  no  man 
indulges  himself  in  any  thing  which  his  con- 
science tells  him  ought  not  to  be  dene,  but  it 
will  at  length  wear  away  his  spirituality  of 
mind. 

The  SYMPTOMS  of  a  religious  decline  are 
many : — 

When  a  minister  begins  to  depart  from  God, 
and  to  lose  a  spiritual  mind,  HE  BECOMES  FOND 
SOMETIMES  OF  GENTEEL  COMPANY,  who  can  enter- 
tain him,  and  who  know  how  to  respect  his 
character!  This  genteel  spirit  is  suspicious: 
it  is  associated  with  pride  and  delicacy,  and  a 
love  of  ease:  in  short,  it  is  the  spirit  of  the 
world.  It  is  the  reverse  of  condescending  to 
mean  things :  it  is  the  reverse  of  the  spirit  of 
our  Master. 

It  is  a  symptom  of  decline,  when  a  man  will 

UNNECESSARILY  EXPOSE  THE  IMPERFECTIONS  OF  THE 

RELIGIOUS  WORLD.  "  Such  a  man,"  he  will  say, 
u  is  fond  of  praying ;  but  he  is  fond  of  money." 
This  is  the  very  opposite  spirit  to  that  of  St. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  229 

Paul,  who  speaks  even  weeping  of  those  who 
mind  earthly  things. 

A  VIOLENT  SECTARIAN  SPIRIT  is  a  sign  of  relig1- 
ious  declension.  Honest  men  stand  firm  for 
the  vitals  of  religion.  If  the  mind  were  right, 
the  circumstantials  of  religion  would1  not  be 
made  matters  of  fierce  contention.  The  spirit 
of  St.  Paul  was  of  another  kind.  If  meat  make 
my  brother  to  offend,  I  -will  eat  no  meat  while  the 
world  standeth,  lest  I  make  my  brother  to  ojftnd 
— One  believeth  that  he  may  eat  all  things  :  an- 
other, who  is  weak,  eateth  herbs.  Let  not  him, 
that  eateth,  despise  him  that  eateth  not ;  and  let 
not  him,  which  eateth  not,  judge  him  that  eateth. 

AVERSION  FROM  REPROOF  marks  a  state  of  re- 
ligious decline.  The  man  cannot  bear  to  have 
his  state  depicted,  even  in  the  pulpit.  He 
calls  the  preaching,  which  searches  and  detects 
him,  Arminian  and  legal.  Hast  thou  found  me, 
O  mine  enemy  ?  Why  should  he  quarrel  with 
the  truth?  If  that  truth  is  delivered  in  its  just 
proportions,  his  quarrel  is  with  God  ! 

STUPIDITY  UNDER  CHASTISEMENT  proves  a  man 
to  be  under  declension.  He  is  not  disposed  to 
ask,  Wherefore  dost  thou  contend  with  me  ?  He 
is  kicking  against  the  pricks.  He  is  stricken, 
but  has  not  grieved.  He  is  chastised,  as  a  bul- 
lock unaccustomed  to  the  yoke. 

Such  a  man,  too,  has  often  a  HIGH  MIND.  He 
is  unhumbled — boasting—stout-hearted.  He 
is  ready  to  censure  every  one  but  himself. 

UNNECESSARY  OCCUPATION  is  another  evidence 
of  declension.  Some  men  are  unavoidably 

ich  engaged  in  the  world:  to  such  men  God 
20* 


230  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

will  give  especial  grace,  if  they  seek  it ;  and 
they  shall  maintain  a  spirit  of  devotion  even  in 
the  bustle  and  occupation  of  their  affairs.  But 
some  men  will  be  rich,  and  therefore  fall  into 
temptation  and  a  snare;  they  will  have  shops 
in  different  parts  of  the  town  :  they  say  they 
do  not  feel  this  affect  their  religious  state  ;  but 
I  cannot  believe  them  :  a  man  is  declined  from 
God  before  he  enters  on  such  schemes  :  a  spir- 
itual and  devout  man  will  generally  find  the 
business  in  which  he  is  already  engaged  a  suffi- 
cient snare, 

In  short,  the  symptoms  may  be  this  or  that, 
but  the  disease  is  a  dead  palsy.  Ephraim  ! — 
he  hath  mixed  himself  among  the  people  :  Rphraiin 
is  a  cake  not  turned.  Strangers  have  devoured 
his  strength,  o,nd  he  knoweth  it  not  :  yea  grey 
hairs  are  here  and  there  upon  him,  yet  he  knoi®- 
eth  it  not. 


On  a  Christianas  associating  with  Irreligious 
Persons  for  their  Good. 

CHRIST  is  an  example  to  us  of  entering  into 
mixed  society.  But  our  imitation  of  him  here- 
in must  admit  of  restrictions.  A  feeble  man 
must  avoid  danger.  If  any  one  could  go  into 
society  as  Christ  did,  then  let  him  go  ;  let  him 
attend  marriage-feasts  and  Pharisees'  houses. 
Much  depends  on  a  Christian's  observing  his 
call — the  openings  which  Providence  may 
make  before  him.  It  is  not  enough  to  say  that 
he  frequents  public  company  in  order  to  retard 
the  progress  of  evil. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  231 

But,  when  in  company  of  people  of  the  world, 
we  should  treat  them  kindly  and  tenderly — 
with  feeling*  and  compassion.  They  should  be 
assisted,  if  they  are  inclined  to  receive  assist- 
ance. But  if  a  Christian  falls  into  the  society 
of  a  mere  worldling,  it  must  be  like  the  meet- 
ing of  two  persons  in  rain — they  will  part  as 
soon  as  possible.  If  a  man  loves  such  com- 
pany, it  is  an  evil  symptom. 

It  is  a  Christian's  duty  to  maintain  a  kind  in- 
tercourse, if  practicable,  with  his  relatives.  And 
he  must  DULY  APPRECIATE  THEIR  STATE  :  if  not 
religious,  they  cannot  see  and  feel  and  taste 
his  enjoyments  :  they  accommodate  themselves 
to  him,  and  he  accommodates  himself  to  them. 
It  is  much  a  matter  of  accommodation  on  both 
sides. 

AVOID  DISGUSTING  SUCH  FRIENDS  UNNECESSARILY. 

A  precise  man,  for  instance,  must  be  humored. 
Your  friends  set  down  your  religion,  perhaps, 
as  a  case  of  humor. 

CULTIVATE  GOOD  SENSE.  If  your  friends  per- 
ceive you  weak  in  any  part  of  your  views  and 
conduct,  they  will  think  you  weak  in  your 
religion. 

AVOID  VAIN  JANGLING.  There  is  a  disposition 
in  such  friends  to  avoid  important  and  pinching 
truth.  If  you  WILL  converse  with  them  on  the 
subject  of  religion,  they  will  often  endeavor  to 
draw  you  on  to  such  points  as  predestination. 
They  will  ask  you  what  you  think  of  the  sal- 
vation of  infants  and  of  the  heathen.  All  this 
is  meant  to  throw  out  the  great  question. 

SEIZE    FAVORABLE     occASioxs — not   only  the 


£32  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

u  mollia  tempora  fandd ;"  bnt  when  public 
characters  and  public  events  furnish  occasions 
of  profitable  reflection. 

Bring-  before  your  friends  THE  EXTREME  CHILD- 
ISHNESS OF  A  SINFUL  STATE.  Treat  worldly 
amusements  as  puerile  things.  People  of  the 
world  are  sick  at  heart  of  their  very  pleas- 
ures. 

On  the  Christian  Sabbath. 

IT  belongs  to  our  very  relation  to  God,  to  set 
apart  a  portion  of  our  time  for  his  service  : 
but)  as  it  might  have  been  difficult  for  con- 
science to  determine  what  that  portion  should 
,  be,  God  has  prescribed  it :  and  the  ground  of 
the  observance  remains  the  same,  whether  the 
remembrance  of  God's  resting  from  his  work, 
or  any  other  reason,  be  assigned  as  the  more 
immediate  cause. 

The  Jewish  Sabbath  was  partly  of  political 
institution,  and  partly  of  moral  obligation.  So 
far  as  it  was  a  political  appointment,  designed 
to  preserve  the  Jews  distinct  from  other  na- 
tions, it  is  abrogated  :  so  far  as  it  was  of  moral 
obligation,  it  remains  in  force. 

Our  Lord  evidently  designed  to  relax  the 
strictness  of  the  observance.  Christianity  is 
not  a  hedge  placed  round  a  peculiar  people. 
A  slave  might  enter  into  the  spirit  of  Chris- 
tianity, though  obliged  to  work  as  a  slave  on 
the  sabbath  :  he  might  be  in  the  Spirit  on  the 
Lord^s  Day,  thong  a  in  the  mines  of  Patmos. 

Difficulties  often  arise  in  respect  to  the  ob- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.   CECIL,  233 

servance  of  the  Sabbath.  I  tell  conscientious 
persons,  "  If  you  have  the  spirit  of  Christian- 
ity, and  are  in  an  employment  contrary  to 
Christianity,  you  will  labor  to  escape  from  it, 
and  God  will  open  your  way."  Ifsuch  a  man's 
heart  be  right,  he  will  not  throw  himself  out 
of  his  employment  the  first  day  he  suspects 
himself  to  be  wrong,  but  he  will  pray  and  wait 
till  his  way  shall  be  opened  before  him. 

Christ  came  not  to  abolish  the  Sabbath,  but 
to  explain  and  enforce  it,  as  he  did  the  rest  of 
the  Law.  Its  observance  was  no  where  posi- 
tively enjoined  by  him,  because  Christianity 
was  to  be  practicable,  and  was  to  go  into  all 
nations :  and  it  goes  thither  stripped  of  its 
precise  and  various  circumstances.  I  was  in 
the  Spirit  on  the  Lord's  Day,  seems  to  be  the 
soul  of  the  Christian  Sabbath. 

In  this  view  of  the  day,  a  thousand  frivolous 
questions  concerning  its  observance  would  be 
answered.  u  What  CAN  I  DO?"  says  one  :  I  an- 
swer, u  Do  what  true  servants  of  God  WILL  do. 
Bend  not  to  what  is  wrong.  Be  in  the  Spirit. 
God  will  help  you." 

In  short,  we  are  going  to  spend  a  Sabbath 
in  Eternity.  The  Christian  will  acquire  as 
much  of  the  Sabbath-spirit  as  he  can.  And,  in 
proportion  to  a  man's  real  piety  in  every  age 
of  the  church,  he  will  be  found  to  have  been, 
a  diligent  observer  of  the  Sabbath  day. 


234  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL. 

On  Judging  Justly. 

A  PERFECTLY  just  and  sound  mind  is  a  rare  and 
invaluable  gift.  But  it  is  still  much  more  un- 
usual to  see  such  a  mind  unbiassed  in  all  its  act- 
ings. God  has  given  this  soundness  of  mind 
but  to  few  ;  and  a  very  small  number  of  those 
few  escape  the  bias  of  some  predilection,  per- 
haps habitually  operating  ;  and  none  are,  at 
all  times  and  perfectly,  free.  1  once  saw  this 
subject  forcibly  illustrated.  A  watchmaker  toM 
me  that  a  gentleman  had  put  an  exquisite  watch 
into  his  hands,  that  went  irregularly.  It  was 
as  perfect  a  piece  of  work  as  was  ever  made. 
He  took  it  to  pieces  and  put  it  together  again 
twenty  times*  No  manner  of  defect  was  to  be 
discovered,  and  yet  the  watch  went  intolera- 
bly. At  last  it  struck  him,  that,  possibly,  the 
balance-wheel  might  have  been  near  a  mag- 
net. On  applying  a  needle  to  it,  he  found  his 
suspicions  true.  Here  was  all  the  mischief. 
The  steel  work  in  the  other  parts  of  the  watch 
had  a  perpetual  influence  on  its  motions  ;  and 
the  watch  went  as  well  as  possible  with  a  new 
wheel.  If  the  soundest  mind  be  MAGNETIZED 
by  any  predilection,  it  must  act  irregularly. 

PREJUDICE  is  often  the  result  of  such  strong  as- 
sociations, that  it  acts  involuntarily,  in  spite  of 
conviction  and  resolution.  The  first  step  to- 
ward its  eradication,  is  the  persevering  habit 
of  presenting  it  to  the  mind  in  its  true  colors. 

IF  a  man  will  look  at  most  of  his  prejudices, 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  235 

he  will  find  that  they  arise  from  his  field  of 
view  being  necessarily  narrow  like  the  eye  of 
the  fly.  He  can  have  but  little  better  notions 
of  the  whole  scheme  of  things,  as  has  been  well 
said,  than  a  fly  on  the  pavement  of  St.  Paul's 
cathedral  can  have  of  the  whole  structure.  He 
is  offended,  therefore,  by  inequalities  which 
are  lost  in  the  grand  design.  This  persuasion 
will  fortify  him  against  many  injurious  and  trou- 
blesome prejudices. 

JUST  judgment  depends  on  the  simplicity  and 
the  strength  of  the  mind.  The  eye  which 
conveys  a  perfect  idea  of  the  scene  to  the 
mind,  must  be  unclouded  and  strong,  if  the 
mental  eye  be  not  single,  the  judgment  will 
be  warped  by  some  little,  mean  and  selfish  in- 
terests ;  and,  if  it  be  not  capable  of  a  wide  and 
distant  range,  the  decision  will  be  partial  and 
imperfect.  For  example  :  a  man,  with  either 
of  these  failings,  will  be  likely  to  blind  his  eyes 
from  the  conviction,  that  would  dart  on  him, 
when  he  places  a  son  or  a  friend  in  any  sphere 
of  influence,  BECAUSE  he  is  his  son  or  his  friend  ; 
when  'a  single  or  a  strong  eye  would  shew  him 
that  the  interests  of  religion  and  truth  requir- 
ed him  to  prefer  some  other  person.  The 
mind  must  be  raised  above  the  petty  interests 
and  affairs  of  life,  and  pursue  supremely  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  church. 

SOME  minds  are  so  diseased,  that  they  can  see 
an  affair  only  in  that  light,  in  which  passion 
or  predilection  first  presented  it,  or  as  it  ap- 


236  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECII,. 

pears  on  the  surface.  The  essence,  the  truth 
of  the  thing,  which  must  give  character  to  the 
whole,  and  on  which  all  just  decision  must  de- 
pend, may  lie  beneath  the  surface,  and  may  be 
a  nice  affair.  But  such  minds  cannot  enter  in- 
to it.  It  is  as  though  I  should  try  to  convince 
such  persons — allowing  me  that  the  pineal 
gland  is  the  seat  of  the  soul — that,  however 
fair  and  perfect  the  form,  the  man  wanted  the 
essence  of  his  being,  in  wanting  that  apparent- 
ly insignificant  part  of  his  body.  Such  men 
would  say,  "  here  is  a  striking  and  perfect  form 
— all  parts  are  harmonious — life  animates  the 
frame — the  machine  plays  admirably — what 
has  this  little  insignificant  member  to  do  with 
it  ?"  And  yet  this  is  the  essential  and  charac- 
terizing part  of  the  man. 


EVERY  man  has  a  peculiar  turn  of  mind,  which 
gives  a  coloring  and  tinge  to  his  thoughts.  I 
have  particularly  detected  this  in  myself  with 
respect  to  public  affairs.  I  have  such  an  im- 
mediate view  of  God  acting  in  them,  that  all 
the  great  men,  who  make  such  a  noise  and  bus- 
tle on  the  scene,  seem  to  me  like  so  many 
mere  puppets.  God  is  moving  them  all,  to  ef- 
fect His  own  designs.  They  cannot  advance 
a  step,  whither  Pie  does  not  lead  :  nor  stand  a 
moment,  where  he  does  not  place  them.  Now 
this  is  a  view  of  things,  which  it  is  my  privi- 
lege to  take  as  a  Christian.  But  the  evil  lies 
here.  I  dwell  so  much  on  the  view  of  the 
matter,  to  which  the  turn  of  my  mind  leads  me, 
that  I  forget  sometimes  the  natural  tendencies 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  237 

of  things.  God  uses  all  things,  but  not  so  as  to 
destroy  their  natural  tendencies.  They  are 
good  or  evil,  according  to  their  own  nature  ; 
not  according  to  the  use  which  He  makes  of 
them. 

THE  mind  has  a  constant  tendency  to  conform 
itself  to  the  sentiments  and  cast  of  thinking  with 
which  it  is  chiefly  conversant,  either  among 
books  or  men.  If  the  influence  remain  unde- 
tected, it  grows  soon  into  an  inveterate  habit 
of  obliquity.  Even  if  it  be  detected,  it  is  the 
most  difficult  thing  in  the  world  to  bring  back 
the  mind  to  the  standard,  especially  if  there 
be  any  thing  in  its  constitution  which  assimi- 
lates itself  to  the  error.  I  was  once  much  in 
the  habit  of  reading  the  mystical  writers  :  a 
book  of  Dr.  Owen's  clearly  convinced  me  that 
they  erred  :  yet  I  found  my  mind  ever  inclin- 
ing toward  them,  and  winding  round  like  the 
biassed  bowl,  i  saw  clearly  the  absurdity  of 
the  notions  in  their  view  of  them,  and  yet  I 
was  ever  talking  of  u  self  annihilation"  &c : 
and  am  not  even  now  rid  of  the  thing. 

I_    'Mr-^» 
On  the  Character  of  St.  Paul. 
I  DELIGHT  to  contemplate  St.  Paul  as  an  appoint- 
ed  pattern.     Men  might  have  questioned  the 
propriety  of  urging  on  them  the  example  of 
Christ — they  might  have  said  that  we  are  ne- 
cessarily in  dissimilar  circumstances.     But  St. 
Paul  stands  up  in  like   case  with  ourselves — a 
model  of  ministerial  virtues. 

We  consider  him,  perhaps,  in  point  of  char- 


238  REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECLL. 

acter,  more  the  immediate  subject  of  extraor- 
dinary inspiration,  than  he  was  in  reality.  And 
this  mistake  affects  our  view  of  him  in  two  dif- 
ferent ways. 

We  suppose,  at  one  time,  that  his  virtues 
were  so  much  the  effect  of  extraordinary  com- 
munications, that  he  is  no  proper  model  for  us ; 
whereas  he  was  no  farther  fitted  to  his  circum- 
stances than  every  Christian  has  warrant  to  ex- 
pect to  be,  so  far  as  his  circumstaces  are  similar. 

At  another  time,  perhaps,  though  we  ac- 
knowledge and  revere  his  distinguished  charac- 
ter, yet  our  view  of  his  virtues  is  exalted  be- 
yond due  measure.  We  should  remember,  that, 
as  he  was  fitted  for  his  circumstances ;  so  he 
was,  in  a  great  degree,  made  by  them.  Many 
men  are  doubtless,  executing  their  appointed 
task  in  retirement  and  silence,  who  would  un- 
fold a  character  beyond  all  expectation,  if 
Providence  were  to  lead  them  into  a  scene 
where  the  world  rose  up  in  arms  and  they  were 
sent  forth  into  it  under  a  clear  conviction  of  an 
especial  mission.  The  history  of  the  church 
seems  to  shew  us  that  the  effects  of  grace,  or- 
dinary or  extraordinary,  have  been  the  same 
in  all  ages. 

I.\  speaking  of  St.  Paul,  it  has  been  usual  to 
magnify  his  learning,  among  the  many  other 
great  qualities  which  he  possessed.  That  point 
seems  never  to  have  been  satisfactorily  made 
out.  He  was  an  educated  Pharisee ;  but,  far- 
ther than  this,  1  think  we  cannot  go.  Misquo- 
tations from  the  Greek  Poets  are  not  evidences 


REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL.  239 

of  even  a  school-boy^s  learning  in  our  day  : 
for  we  forget,  when  we  talk  of  them,  that  he 
was  a  Roman  quoting  Greek.  Nor  do  I  see  any 
thing  more  in  his  famous  speech  in  the  Areo- 
pagus, so  often  produced  as  evidence  on  this 
subject,  than  the  line  of  argument  to  which  a 
strong  and  energetic  mind  would  lead  him.  If 
we  talk  of  his  talents,  indeed,  he  rises  almost 
beyond  admiration :  but  they  were  talents  of 
a  certain  order;  and  the  very  display  which 
we  have  of  them  seems  a  strong  corroborative 
proof,  that  he  is  not  to  be  considered  as  a  pro- 
foundly learned  man  of  his  day.  For  instance, 
had  he  studied  Aristotle,  it  would  have  been 
almost  impossible  but  he  must  have  caught 
some  influence,  which  we  should  have  seen  in 
his  writings.  But  there  is  nothing  like  the  dry, 
logical,  metaphysical  character  of  that  school; 
which  yet  had  then  given  the  law  to  the  seats 
of  science  and  philosophy.  Instead  of  this,  we 
see  every  where  the  copious,  diffusive,  de- 
claiming, discursive  ;  but  sublime,  and  wise, 
and  effective  mind. 

THERE  is  a  true  apostolicism  in  the  character 
of  St.  Paul.  It  is  a  combination  of  ZEAL  and 
LOVE. 

The  zeal  of  some  men  is  of  a  haughty,  un- 
bending, ferocious  character.  They  have  the 
letter  of  truth,  but  they  mount  the  pulpit  like 
prize-fighters.  It  is  with  them  a  perpetual  scold. 
This  spirit  is  a  reproach  to  the  Gospel.  It  is 
not  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ.  HE  seems  to 
have  labored  to  win  men. 


240  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

But  there  is  an  opposite  extreme.  The  love 
of  some  men  is  all  milk  and  mildness !  There 
is  so  much  delicacy,  and  so  much  fastidiousness  ! 
They  touch  with  such  tenderness  ! — and,  if  the 
patient  shrinks,  they  will  touch  no  more  !  The 
times  are  too  flagrant  for  such  a  disposition. 
The  Gospel  is  sometimes  preached  in  this  way, 
till  all  the  people  agree  with  the  preacher. 
He  gives  no  offence,  and  he  does  no  good! 

But  St.  Paul  united  and  blended  love  and 
zeal.  He  MUST  win  souls :  but  he  will  labor 
to  do  this  by  all  possible  lawful  contrivances. 
/  am  made  all  things  to  all  men,  that  1  might  by 
all  means  save  some.  Zeal,  alone,  may  degen- 
erate into  ferociousness  and  brutality ;  and  love, 
alone,  into  fastidiousness  and  delicacy :  but  the 
apostle  combined  both  qualities ;  and,  more 
perfectly  than  other  men,  realized  the  union 
of  the  fortiter  in  re  with  the  suaviter  in  modo. 

Miscellanies. 

THE  Moravians  seem  to  have  very  nearly  hit 
on  Christianity.  They  appear  to  have  found 
out  what  sort  of  a  thing  it  is — its  quietness — 
meekness-patience—spirituality — heavenliness 
— and  order.  But  they  want  fire.  A  very  su- 
perior woman  among  them  once  said  to  me — 
that  there  wanted  another  body,  the  character 
of  which  should  be  combined  from  the  Mora- 
vians and  the  Methodists.  The  Moravians 
have  failed  in  making  too  little  of  preaching; 
as  the  Methodists  have  done,  in  making  too 
much  of  it. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  241 

THE  grandest  operations,  both  in  nature  and  in 
grnce,  are  the  most  silent  and  imperceptible. 
The  shallow  brook  babbles  in  its  passage,  and 
is  heard  by  every  one  :  but  the  coming  on  of 
the  seasons  is  silent  and  unseen.  The  storm 
rages  and  alarms;  but  its  fury  is  soon  exhaust- 
ed, and  its  effects  are  partial  and  soon  reme- 
died :  but  the  dew,  though  gentle  and  unheard, 
is  immense  in  quantity,  and  the  very  life  of 
large  portions  of  the  earth.  And  these  are 
pictures  of  the  operations  of  grace,  in  the 
church  and  in  the  soul. 

ATHEISM  is  a  characteristic  of  our  day.  On  the 
sentiments,  manners,  pursuits,  amusements,  and 
dealings  of  the  great  body  of  mankind,  there  is 
written  in  broad  characters — without  God  in  the 
world ! 

I  HAVE  often  had  occasion  to  observe,  that  a 
warm  blundering  man  does  more  for  the  world 
than  a  frigid  wise  man.  A  man,  who  gets  in- 
to a  habit  of  inquiring  about  proprieties  and 
expediencies  and  occasions,  often  spends  his 
life  without  doing  anything  to  purpose.  The 
state  of  the  world  is  such,  and  so  much  depends 
on  action,  that  every  thing  seems  to  say  loudly 
to  every  man,  u  Do  something" — "  do  it" — 
"  do  it." 


PROVIDENCE  is  a  greater  mysterj'  than  religion. 
The  state  of  the  world  is  more  humiliating  to 
our  reason,  than  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel, 
reflecting  Christian  sees  more  to  excite  his 


4 


242  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

astonishment  and  to  exercise  his  faith  in  the 
state  of  things  between  Temple  Bar  and  St. 
Paul's,  than  in  what  he  reads  from  Genesis  to 
Revelation.  See  the  description  of  the  work- 
ing of  God's  Providence,  in  the  account  of  the 
cherubims  in  the  1st  and  tenth  chapters  of 
Ezekiel. 


THE  scheme  and  machinery  of  redemption  may 
be  illustrated  by  the  water-works  at  Marly. 
We  consider  a  part  of  that  complicated  machin- 
ery, and  we  cannot  calculate  on  the  effects  ;  but 
we  see  that  they  are  produced.  We  cannot 
explain  to  a  philosopher  the  system  of  redemp- 
tion, and  the  mode  of  conducting  and  commu- 
nicating its  benefits  to  the  human  soul;  but  we 
know  that  it  yields  the  water  of  life — civiliza- 
tion, to  a  barbarian — direction,  to  a  wanderer 
• — support,  to  those  that  are  ready  to  perish. 


IT  is  manifest  that  God  designed  to  promote 
intercourse  and  commerce  among  men,  by  giv- 
ing to  each  climate  its  appropriate  productions. 
It  is,  in  itself,  not  only  innocent,  but  laudable. 
All  trade,  however,  which  is  founded  in  em- 
bellishment, is  founded  in  depravity.  So  also 
is  that  Spirit  of  trade,  which  pushes  men  on 
dangerous  competitions.  Many  tradesmen, 
professedly  religious,  seem  to  look  on  their 
trade  as  a  vast  engine,  which  will  be  worked 
to  no  good  effect,  if  it  be  not  worked  with  the 
whole  vigor  of  the  soul.  This  is  an  intoxicat- 
ing and  ruinous  mistake.  So  far  as  they  live 
under  the  power  of  religion,  they  will  pursue 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  243 

their  trade  for  sustenance  and  provision  ;  but 
riot  even  that,  with  unseasonable  attention  and 
with  eagerness  :  much  less  will  religion  suffer 
them  to  bury  themselves  in  it,  when  its  objects 
are  some  thing  beyond  these  :  and,  least  of  all 
will  it  leave  them  to  deceive  themselves  with 
certain  commercial  maxims,  so  far  removed 
from  simplicity  and  integrity  that  1  have  been 
often  shocked  beyond  measure,  at  hearing 
them  countenanced  and  adopted  by  some  reli- 
gious professors. 

EVERY  man  should  aim  to  do  one  thing  well. 
If  he  dissipates  his  attention  on  several  objects 
he  may  have  excellent  talents  entrusted  to 
him,  but  they  will  be  entrusted  to  no  good  end. 
Concentrated  on  his  proper  object,  they  might 
have  a  vast  energy  ;  but,  dissipated  on  several 
they  will  have  none.  Let  other  objects  be 
pursued,  indeed  ;  but  only  so  far  as  they  may 
subserve  the  main  purpose.  By  neglecting 
this  rule,  I  have  seen  frivolity,  and  futility 
written  on  minds  of  great  power ;  and,  by  re- 
garding it,  i  have  seen  very  limited  minds  act- 
ing in  the  first  rank  of  their  profession — I  have 
seen  a  large  capital  and  a  great  stock  dissipat- 
ed, and  the  man  reduced  to  beggary ;  and 
I  have  seen  a  small  capital  and  stock  improved 
to  great  riches. 


To  effect  any  purpose,  in  study,  the  mind  must 
be  concentrated.  If  any  other  subject  plays  on 
the  fancy,  than  that  which  ought  to  be  exclu- 
sively before  it,  the  mind  is  divided  ;  and  both 


244  REMAINS  OE  MR.  CECIL. 

are  neutralized,  so  as  to  lose  their  effect.  Just 
as  when  I  learnt  two  systems  of  short-hand.  I 
was  familiar  with  Gurney's  method  and  wrote 
it  with  ease  ;  but,  when  I  took  it  into  my  head 
to  learn  Byrom's,  they  destroyed  each  other, 
and  1  could  write  neither. 


THERE  should  be  something  obvious,  determin- 
ate, and  positive,  in  a  man's  reasons  for  taking 
a  journey  ;  especially  if  he  be  a  minister. 
Such  events  and  consequences  may  be  connect- 
ed with  it  in  every  step,  that  he  ought,  in  no 
case,  to  be  more  simply  dependent  on  the 
great  Appointer  of  means  and  occasions.  Sever- 
al journies  which  I  thought  myself  called  on 
to  take,  1  have  since  had  reason  to  think  I 
should  not  have  taken.  Negative,  and  even 
doubtful  reasons,  may  justify  him  in  choosing 
the  safer  side  of  staying  at  home  ;  but  there 
ought  to  be  something  more  in  the  reasons 
which  put  him  out  of  his  way,  to  meet  the 
unknown  consequences  of  a  voluntary  change 
of  station.  Let  there  always  be  a  u  because" 
to  meet  the  "  why  ?" 

I  SOMETIMES  see,  as  I  sit  in  my  pew  at  St.  John's 
during  the  service,  an  idle  fellow  saunter  into 
the  chapel.  He  gapes  about  him  for  a  few  min- 
utes :  finds  nothing  to  interest  and  arrest  him  ; 
seerns  scarcely  to  understand  what  is  going  for- 
ward ;  and,  after  a  lounge  or  two,  goes  out  a- 
gain.  I  look  at  him,  and  think,  "  Thou  art  a 
wonderful  creature  !  A  perfect  miracle  !  What 
a  machine  is  that  body !  curiously, — fearfully, 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL,  245 

—Wonderfully  framed  !  An  intricate — delicate 
— but  harmonious  and  perfect  structure  !  And, 
then,  to  ascend  to  thy  soul ! — its  nature  ! — its 
capacities  ! — its  actual  state  ! — its  designation  ! 
— its  eternal  condition  ! — I  am  lost  in  amaze- 
ment ! — While  he  seems  to  have  no  more  con- 
sciousness of  all  this  than  the  brutes  which  per- 
ish !" 

SIN,  pursued  to  its  tendencies,  would  pull  God 
from  his  throne.  Though  I  have  a  deep  con- 
viction of  its  exceeding  sinfulness,  I  live  not  a 
week  without  seeing  some  exhibition  of  its  ma- 
lignity which  draws  from  me — "  Well !  who 
could  have  imagined  this !"  Sin  would  subju- 
gate heaven,  earth,  and  hell  to  itself.  It  would 
make  the  universe  the  minion  of  its  lusts,  and 
all  beings  bow  down  and  worship. 

IT  is  one  of  the  most  awful  points  of  view  in 
which  we  can  consider  God,  that,  as  a  right- 
eous governor  of  the  world,  concerned  to  vin- 
dicate his  own  glory,  he  has  laid  himself  under 
a  kind  of  holy  necessity  to  purify  the  unclean, 
or  to  sink  him  into  perdition. 

IT  is  one  of  the  curses  of  error,  that  the  man, 
who  is  the  subject  of  it,  if  he  has  had  the  op- 
portunity of  being  better  informed,  cannot  pos- 
sibly do  right,  so  far  as  he  is  under  it.  He  has 
brought  himself  into  an  utter  incapacity  of  act- 
ing virtuously  :  since  it  is  vicious  to  obey  an  ill- 
informed  conscience,  if  that  conscience  might 
have  been  better  informed  j  and  certainly  vi- 


246  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

cious  to  disobey  conscience,  whether  it  be  well 
or  ill-informed. 

THE  approaches  of  sin  are  like  the  conduct  of 
Jael.  It  brings  butter  in  a  lordly  dish.  It  bids 
high  for  the  soul.  But  when  it  has  fascinated 
and  lulled  the  victim,  the  nail  and  the  hammer 
are  behind. 

I  HAVE  met  with  one  case  in  my  ministry,  very 
frequent  and  very  distressing.  A  man  says  to 
me  "  I  approve  all  you  say.  I  SEE  things  to  be 
just  as  you  state  them.  I  see  a  necessity,  a 
propriety,  a  beauty  in  the  religion  of  Christ. 
I  see  it  to  be  interesting  and  important.  But 
I  do  not  FEEL  it.  I  cannot  feel  it.  I  have  no 
spirit  of  prayer.  My  heart  belies  my  head : 
its  affections  refuse  to  follow  my  convictions." 
If  this  complaint  be  ingenuous,  it  is  an  evidence 
of  grace  ;  and  I  sny  u  Wait  for  God,  and  he 
will  appear."  But,  too  often,  it  is  not  ingenu- 
ous :  the  heart  is  actually  indisposed  :  some 
tyrant  holds  it  in  bondage.  The  complaint  is 
a  mockery — because  there  is  no  sincerity  of 
endeavor  to  obtain  the  object  of  which  it  pre- 
tends to  lament  the  want — there  is  no  sincere 
desire  and  prayer  for  the  quickening  .and 
breathing  of  God's  Holy  Spirit  on  the  torpid 
soul. 

THE  man  who  labors  to  please  his  neighbor  for 
his  good  to  edification^  has  the  mind  that  was  in 
Christ.  It  is  a  sinner  trying  to  help  a  sinner. 
How  different  the  face  of  things  if  this  spirit 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  247 

prevailed! — If  Dissenters  were  like  Henry, 
and  Watts,  and  Doddridge  ;  and  churchmen 
like  Leighton  !  The  man  who  comes  promi- 
nently forward  in  any  way  may  expect  to  he 
found  fault  with:  one  will  call  him  harsh,  and 
another  a  trimmer.  A  hard  man  may  be  rev- 
erenced, but  men  will  like  him  best  at  a  dis- 
tance :  he  is  an  iron  man  :  he  is  not  like  Je- 
sus Christ:  Christ  might  have  driven  Thomas 
from  his  presence  for  his  unreasonable  incre- 
dulity— but  not  so  !  It  is  as  though  he  had  said, 
u  I  will  come  down  to  thy  weakness:  if  thou 
canst  not  believe  without  thrusting  thy  hand 
into  my  side,  then  thrust  in  thy  hand."  Even 
a  feeble,  but  kind  and  tender  man,  will  effect 
more  than  a  genius,  who  is  rough  or  artificial. 
There  is  danger,  doubtless,  of  humoring  others, 
and  against  this  we  must  be  on  our  guard.  It 
is  a  kind  and  accommodating  spirit  at  which 
we  must  aim.  When  the  two  goats  met  on 
the  bridge  which  was  too  narrow  to  allow  them 
either  to  pass  each  other,  or  to  return,  the 
goat  which  lay  down  that  the  other  might  walk 
over  him  was  a  finer  gentleman  than  Lord 
Chesterfield. 


To  expect  disease  wherever  he  goes,  and  to 
lay  himself  out  in  the  application  of  remedies, 
is  that  habit  of  mind  which  is  best  suited  to  a 
Christian  while  he  passes  through  the  world, 
if  he  would  be  most  effectually  useful. 

THE  Papists  and  Puritans  erred,  in  opposite 
extremes,  in  their  treatment  of  mankind.  The 


248  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

PAPISTS,  almost  to  a  man,  considered  the  mass 
of  men  as  mere  animals,  and  to  be  led  by  the 
senses.  Even  Fenelon  fell  into  this  way  of 
thinking.  Some  few  fine  spirits  were  to  be 
found,  which  were  capable  of  other  treatment : 
but  the  herd  they  thought  capable  of  nothing 
but  seeing  and  hearing.  The  PURITANS,  on  the 
contrary,  treated  man  as  though  he  had  noth- 
ing of  the  animal  about  him.  There  was 
among  them  a  total  excision  of  all  amusement 
and  recreation.  Every  thing  was  effort.  Ev- 
ery thing  was  severe.  I  have  heard  a  man  of 
this  school  preach  on  the  distinction  between 
justifying  and  saving  faith.  He  tried  to  make 
his  hearers  enter  into  these  niceties:  whereas, 
faith  in  its  bold  and  leading  features,  should 
have  been  presented  to  them,  if  any  effect  was 
expected.  The  bulk  of  mankind  are  capable 
of  much  more  than  the  Papist  allows,  but  are 
incapable  of  that  which  the  Puritan  supposes. 
They  should  be  treated,  in  opposition  to  both, 
as  rational  and  feeling  creatures,  but  upon  a 
bold  and  palpable  ground. 

I  HAVE  seen  such  sin  in  the  church,  that  I  have 
been  often  brought  by  it  to  a  sickly  state  of 
mind.  But,  when  I  have  turned  to  the  world, 
I  have  seen  sin  working  there  in  such  meas- 
ures and  forms,  that  I  have  turned  back  again 
to  the  church  with  more  wisdom  of  mind  and 
more  affection  to  it — tainted  as  it  is.  I  see 
sin,  however,  no  where  put  on  such  an  odious 
appearance  as  in  the  church.  It  mixes  itself 
with  the  most  holy  things,  and  debases  them, 
and  turns  them  to  its  own  purposes.  It  builds 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL,  249 

its  nest  in  the  very  pinnacles  of  the  temple. 
The  history  of  the  primitive  ages  of  the  chivjh 
has  also  checked  the  disgust  which  would  arise 
from  seeing  the  impure  state  of  things  before 
our  eyes.  Folly  and  wickedness  sported  them- 
selves even  then,  in  almost  all  possible  forms. 
I  turn,  in  such  states  of  mind,  to  two  portraits 
in  my  study — John  Bradford  and  Abp.  Leigh- 
ton.  These  never  fail,  in  such  cases,  to  speak 
forcibly  to  my  heart,  that,  in  the  midst  of  all, 
there  is  pure  religion,  and  to  tell  me  what  that 
religion  is. 


THE  joy  of  religion  is  an  exorcist  to  the  mind. 
It  expels  the  demons  of  carnal  mirth  and  mad- 


THE  union  of  Christians  to  Christ,  their  com- 
mon head  ;  and,  by  means  of  the  influence 
which  they  derive  from  Him,  one  to  another ; 
may  be  illustrated  by  the  loadstone.  It  not 
only  attracts  the  particles  of  iron  to  itself,  by 
the  magnetic  virtue  ;  but,  by  this  virtue,  it 
unites  them  one  among  another. 

Some  considerable  defect  is  always  visible,  in 
the  greatest  men,  to  a  discerning  eye.  We 
idolize  the  best  characters,  because  we  see 
them  partially.  Let  us  acknowledge  excel- 
lence, and  ascribe  the  glory  where  it  is  due, 
while  we  honor  the  possessor ;  but  let  us  re- 
member that  God  has,  by  leaving  his  greatest 
servants  to  the  natural  operation  of  human 
frailty  in  some  point  or  5ther  of  their  charac- 
22 


250  REMAINS  OE  MR.  CECIL. 

ter,  written  on  the  face  of  the  Christian  Church, 
Cease  ye  from  man!  He  does,  by  perfection  in 
character,  as  he  tiid  by  the  body  of  Moses — he 
hides  it,  that  it  may  not  be  idolized.  Our  af- 
fections, our  prejudices  or  our  ignorance  cov- 
er the  creature  with  a  dazzling  veil :  but  he 
lifts  it  up  ;  and  seems  to  say,  "  see  the  crea- 
ture vou  admire  !" 


A  MAN,  who  thinks  himself  to  have  attained 
Christian  perfection,  in  the  sense  in  which  it 
has  been  insisted  on  by  some  persons,  either 
deceives  himself,  by  calling  sin,  infirmity — or 
Satan  leaves  him  undisturbed  in  false  security 
— or  the  demon  of  pride  overcomes  the  demon 
of  lust. 

THE  trials  of  the  tempted  Christian  are  often 
sent  for  the  use  of  others,  and  are  made  the 
riches  of  all  around  him. 


IF  I  were  not  penetrated  with  a  conviction  of 
the  truth  of  the  Bible,  and  the  reality  of  my 
own  experience,  I  should  be  confounded  on  all 
sides — from  within,  and  from  without — in  the 
world,  and  in  the  church. 


IF  a  good  man  cannot  prevent  evil,  he  will 
hang  heavy  on  its  wings,  and  retard  its  pro- 
gress. 

WE  are  too  much  disposed  to  look  at  the  out- 
side of  things.  The  face  of  every  affair  chief- 
Iv  affects  us.  Were  God  to  draw  aside  the 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  251 

veil,  and  to  shew  us  but  a  little  of  the  reality, 
and  the  relations  of  the  most  apparently  mys- 
terious and  complicated  dispensations,  we 
should  acquiesce  with  reverence  and  admira- 
tion. A  minister,  for  example,  may  be  taken 
away  in  the  beginning  of  a  promising  career, 
or  in  the  midst  of  great  usefulness.  If  we 
cannot  perceive  any  direct  reason  for  this 
Providence,  we  stand  amazed.  But,  if  we 
could  look  forward  into  the  farther  life  of  such 
men,  we  should  probably  see  that  they  were 
taken  away  in  mercy  to  themselves — to  the 
church — or  to  the  world. 

I  HAVE  seen  too  much  of  life,  to  have  any  thing 
to  do  in  the  troubled  waters  of  my  friends,  by 
way  of  giving  advice  ;  unless  they  will  allow 
me  to  remain  in  secret.  This  especially  ap- 
plies to  some  Christians  of  more  sincerity  than 
prudence.  An  opinion  given  on  difficult  and 
controverted  cases,  in  confidence  of  its  being 
used  only  as  a  private  principle  of  action,  has 
been  quoted  as  authority  in  defence  of  the  con- 
duct founded  on  it. 


MANY  duties  are  involved  on  the  very  nature 
of  religion,  concerning  which  there  is  perhaps 
not  one  express  precept  to  be  found  in  the 
Scriptures.  Private,  family,  or  public  devo- 
tions are  no  where  enjoined  ;  as  to  the  time, 
or  frequency,  or  manner  of  performing  them. 
Yet  they  are  so  strongly  implied  in  the  very 
nature  of  religion,  and  they  are  supposed  so 
necessarily  to  flow  from  the  divine  principle 


252  REMAINS  OF  MR,    CECIL. 

of  spiritual  life  in  the  soul,  that  those  men 
greatly  err,  who  think  themselves  not  obliged 
by  their  religion  to  the  most  diligent  use  of 
them  that  circumstances  will  allow.  And, 
surely,  we  may  trace  here  the  footsteps  of  di- 
vine wisdom.  If  it  had  been  said  "  Thou  shalt 
do  this  or  that,  at  such  and  such  times,"  this 
would  have  brought  a  yoke  on  the  neck  of 
the  Christian  ;  and,  even  when  absolutely  un- 
avoidable circumstances  prevented  him  from 
complying  with  the  injunction,  would  have  left 
sin  on  his  conscience.  While  the  way  in  which 
the  duty  is  enforced  leaves  him  a  Christian 
liberty,  that  is  abundantly  guarded  against  all  li- 
centiousness. He  sees  the  duty  implied  and  ex- 
emplified in  a  thousand  instances  throughout  the 
Scripture.  The  sa,me  principle  is  applicable 
to  certain  pursuits,  which  occupy  the  men  of 
the  world  ;  the  general  unlawfulness  of  which 
is  fully  implied,  though  they  neither  are  nor 
could  have  been  forbidden  by  name.*  , 


NOTHING  seems  important  to  me  but  so  far  as 
it  is  connected  with  morals.  The  end — the 
cui  bono  ? — enters  into  my  view  of  every  thing. 
Even  the  highest  acts  of  the  intellect  become 
criminal  trifling,  when  they  occupy  much  of 
the  time  of  a  moral  creature,  and  especially 
of  a  minister.  If  the  mind  cannot  feel  and 
treat  mathematics  and  music  and  every  thing 

*  See  this  idea  illustrated  with  regard  to  Articles  of 
Faith  in  Jones's  u  Short  view  of  the  argument  between 
the  church  of  England  and  Dissenters,"  in  the  u, Schol- 
ar Armed."  Vol  ii.  p.  59.  J.  P. 


REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECIL.  253 

else  as  a  trifle,  it  has  been  seduced  and  enslav- 
ed. Brainerd,  arid  Grimshaw,  and  Fletcher 
were  men.  Most  of  us  are  dwarfs. 

IN  imitating  examples,  there  are  two  rules  to 
be  regarded  :  we  must  not  stretch  ours  beyond 
our  measure :  nor  must  we  despise  that  in  an- 
other, which  is  unsuitable  to  ourselves. 

A  PIECE  has  been  written  to  prove  that  the 
Gospel  is  preached  to  sinners,  only  in  the 
lowest  state  of  misery  and  imbecility.  Some 
men  get  hold  of  an  opinion,  and  push  it  so  far 
that  it  meets  and  contradicts  other  opinions, 
fairly  deducible  from  Scripture.  And  it  is  no 
uncommon  thing  with  them  to  suppose,  that 
nobody  else  holds  the  same  opinion  ;  when,  it 
they  would  look  into  the  minds  of  other  men, 
they  would  find  themselves  deceived.  We 
preach  the  Gospel  to  sinners  in  the  lowest  con- 
dition ;  and  the  only  reason  I  do  not  preach  it 
to  devils,  is,  that  1  find  no  gospel  provided  for 
devils.  As  to  the  Roman  Catholic  notion  of  a 
grace  of  congruity,  in  their  sense  of  it  i  utter- 
ly disclaim  it.  Some  of  the  best  of  them  taught 
that  God  prepared  the  heart  for  himself  in 
various  unseen  ways.  And  who  can  deny  this  ? 
but  this  is  far  different  from  the  notion,  that 
some  minds  have  a  natural  congruity  or  suita- 
bleness to  the  Gospel.  The  fallow-ground  of 
the  heart  may  be  broken-up,  ploughed,  and 
prepared  by  unseen  and  most  circuitous  means. 
1  have  gone  from  hearing  a  man  preach  incom- 
parable nonsense  who  knew  spiritual  religion, 
22* 


254  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

to  hearing  a  man  of  a  carnal  mind  and  habits 
who  knew  nothing  of  spiritual  religion  preach 
incomparable  sense,  and  I  thought  the  carnal 
preacher  much  most  likely  to  call  men  to  some 
feeling  of  religion. 


THE  imagination  is  the  grand  organ,  whereby 
truth  can  make  successful  approaches  to  the 
mind.  Some  preachers  deal  much  with  the 
passions  :  they  attack  the  hopes  and  fears  of 
men.  But  this  is  a  very  different  thing  from 
the  right  use  of  the  imagination,  as  the  medium 
of  impressing  truth.  Jesus  Christ  has  left  per- 
fect patterns  of  this  way  of  managing  men. — 
But  it  is  a  distinct  talent,  and  a  talent  commit- 
ted to  very  few.  It  is  an  easy  thing  to  move 
the  passions :  a  rude,  blunt,  illiterate  attack 
may  do  this.  But,  to  form  one  new  figure  for 
the  conveyance  of  truth  to  the  mind,  is  a  diffi- 
cult thing.  The  world  is  under  no  small  ob- 
ligation to  the  man  who  forms  such  a  figure. 
The  French  strain  this  point  so  far,  that  the 
effort  is  continually  seen.  To  be  effective — 
there  must  be  about  it  a  naivete — an  ease — a 
self-evidence.  The  figures  of  the  French  wri- 
ters vanish  from  the  mind,  like  the  flourish  of 
a  musical  band.  The  figures  of  Jesus  Christ 
sink  into  the  mind,  and  leave  there  the  indeli- 
ble impress  of  the  truth  which  they  convey. 

THE  religious  world  has  a  great  momentum. 7— 
Money  and  power,  in  almost  any  quantity,  are 
brought  forth  into  action,  when  any  fair  object 
is  set  before  it.  It  is  a  pendulum,  that  swings 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  255 

with  prodigious  force.  But  it  wants  a  regula- 
tor. If  there  is  no  regulating  force  on  it  of 
sufficient  power,  its  motions  will  be  so  violent 
and  eccentric,  that  it  will  tear  the  machine  to 
pieces.  And,  therefore,  when  I  have  any  in- 
fluence in  its  designs  and  schemes,  I  cannot  help 
watching  them  with  extreme  jealousy,  to 
throw  in  every  directing  and  regulating  power 
whichxan  be  obtained  from  any  quarter. 

NOTHING  can  be  proposed  so  wild  or  so  absurd, 
as  not  to  find  a  party — and  often  a  very  large 
party — ready  to  espouse  it.  It  is  a  sad  reflec- 
tion on  human  nature,  but  it  is  too  true.  Every 
day's  experience  and  history  confirm  it.  It 
would  have  argued  gross  ignorance  of  mankind 
to  expect  even  Swedenborgianism  to  be  reject- 
ed at  once  by  the  common  sense  of  men.  He, 
who  laid  the  snare,  knew  that  if  a  few  charac- 
ters of  some  learning  and  respectibility  could  be 
brought  to  espouse  it,  there  would  be  soon  a 
silly  multitude  ready  to  follow. 

THE  religious  world  has  many  features,  which 
are  distressing  to  a  holy  man.  He  sees  in  it 
much  proposal  and  ostentation,  covering  much 
surface.  But  Christianity  is  deep  and  substan- 
tial. A  man  is  soon  enlisted ;  but  he  is  not 
soon  made  a  soldier.  He  is  easily  put  into  the 
ranks,  to  make  a  show  there ;  but  he  is  not  so 
easily  brought  to  do  the  duties  of  the  ranks. 
We  are  too  much  like  an  army  of  Asiatics  ;  they 
count  well,  and  cut  a  good  figure  ;  but  when 
they  come  into  action,  one  has  no  flint,  anoth- 


256  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

er  has  no  cartridge — the  arms  of  one  are  rusty, 
and  another  has  not  learnt  to  handle  them. 
This  was  not  the  complaint  equally  at  all  times. 
It  belongs  too  peculiarly  to  the  present  day. 
The  fault  lies  in  the  muster.  We  are  like 
Falstaff.  He  took  the  king's  money  to  press 
good  men  and  true,  but  got  together  such  rag- 
amuffins that  he  was  ashamed  to  muster  them. 
What  is  the  consequence  ?  People  groan  under 
their  connexions.  Respectable  persons  tell  me 
such  stories  of  their  servants,  who  profess  re- 
ligion, as  to  shame  and  distress  me.  High  pre- 
tensions to  spirituality  !  Warm  zeal  for  certain 
sentiments!  Priding  themselves  in  Mr.  Such-a- 
one's  ministry  !  But  what  becomes  of  their  du- 
ties?— Oh  these  are  u  beggarly  elements"  in- 
deed !  Such  persons  are  alive  to  religious  TALK  ; 
but,  if  you  speak  to  them  on  religious  TEMPERS, 
the  subject  grows  irksome. 

ADMIRATION  and  feeling  are  very  distinct  from 
each  other.  Some  music  and  oratory  enchant 
and  astonish,  but  they  speak  not  to  the  heart. 
I  have  been  overwhelmed  by  Handel's  music  : 
the  Dettingen  Te  Deum  is  perhaps,  the  great- 
est composition  in  the  world  :  yet  I  never,  in 
my  life,  heard  Handel,  but  1  could  think  of 
something  else  at  the  same  time.  There  is  a 
kind  of  music  that  will  not  allow  this.  Dr. 
Worgan  has  so  touched  the  organ  at  St.  John's, 
that  I  have  been  turning  backward  and  forward 
over  the  Prayer  Book  for  the  first  lesson  in 
Isaiah,  and  wondered  that  I  could  not  find  Isai- 
ah there !  The  musician  and  the  orator  fall 


REMAINS  OF  MR,  CECIL.  257 

short  of  the  full  power  of  their  science,  if  the 
hearer  is  left  in  possession  of  himself. 

THE  church  of  England  is  not  fitted,  in  its  pre- 
sent state,  for  a  general  church.  Its  seculari- 
ty  must  be  purged  away.  We  shall  hasten 
that  day  when  Christians  shall  be  of  one  heart 
and  one  mind,  if  we  inculcate  the  spirit  of  char- 
ity on  our  respective  circles.  I  have  aimed  much 
at  this  point,  and  shall  push  it  farther.  The 
rest  must  be  left  to  Providence.  He  only  can, 
by  unknown  means,  heal  the  schisms  of  the 
church,  and  unite  it  together  as  one  external 
body  :  and  that  this  will  be  done  as  some  think, 
by  persecution,  appears  highly  probable.  I 
see  no  other  means  adequate  to  the  end. 

HYPOCRISY  is  folly.  It  is  much  easier,  safer,  and 
pleasanter*  to  be  the  thing  which  a  man  aims  to 
appear,  than  to  keep  up  the  appearance  of  be- 
ing what  he  is  not.  When  a  Christian  is  truly 
such,  he  acts  from  a  nature — a  new  nature — 
and  all  the  actings  of  that  nature  have  the  ease 
and  pleasantness  of  nature  in  them. 

HUMILIATION  is  the  spirit  of  our  dispensation—- 
not a  creeping,  servile,  canting  humility  :  but 
an  entire  self-renunciation.  The  Mystics  of- 
ten talk  admirably  on  the  subject.  Pride  is 
the  most  universal  and  inveterate  of  all  vices. 
Every  man  is  a  proud  man,  though  all  are  not 
equally  proud.  No  sin  harasses  the  Christian 
so  much,  nor  accompanies  him  so  unweariiedly. 
Its  forms  ofexhibitingttself  are  infinitely  varied, 


253  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

and  none  are  more  common  than  the  affecta- 
tion of  humility.  The  assumption  of  the' garb 
of  humility,  in  all  its  shades,  is  generally  but 
an  expression  of  a  proud  mind.  Pride  is  the  mas- 
ter-sin of  the  spirit;  and  the  grace  of  God,  in 
the  whole  tenor  of  our  dispensation,  is  direct- 
ed against  it. 

I  EXTEND  the  circle  of  real  religion  very  widety. 
Many  men  fear  God,  and  love  God,  and  have  a 
sincere  desire  to  serve  Him,  whose  views  of 
religious  truth  are  very  imperfect,  and  in  some 
points  perhaps  utterly  false.  But  I  doubt  not 
that  many  such  persons  have  a  state  of  heart 
acceptable  before  God. 

MAN  is  a  creature  of  extremes.  The  middle 
path  is  generally  the  wise  path  ;  but  there  are 
few  wise  enough  to  find  it.  Because  Papists 
have  made  too  much  of  some  things,  Protes- 
tants have  made  too  little  of  them.  The  Pa- 
pists treat  man  as  all  sense  ;  and,  therefore, 
some  Protestants  would  treat  him  as  all  spirit. 
Because  one  party  has  exalted  the  virgin  Mary 
to  a  divinity,  the  other  can  scarcely  think  of  that 
most  highly  favored  among  women  with  common 
respect.  The  Papist  puts  the  Apocrypha  into 
his  canon — the  Protestant  will  scarcel}'  regard 
it  as  an  ancient  record.  The  Popish  heresy  of 
human  merit  in  justification,  drove  Luther  on 
the  other  side  into  most  unwarrantable  and  un- 
scriptual  statements  of  that  doctrine.  The  Pa- 
pists consider  grace  as  inseparable  from  the 
participation  of  the  sacraments — the  Protes- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  259 

tants  too  often  lose  sight  of  them  as  instituted 
means  of  conveying  grace. 

THE  language  of  irreligion  in  the  heart,  is, 
"  give — give — now — now — whatever  the  flesh 
and  the  eye  lust  after,  and  whatever  gratifies 
the  pride  of  life.  Give  it  now — for,  as  to  any 
reversion,  I  will  not  sacrifice  a  single  lust  for  it ; 
or  if  I  must  have  a  religion,  it  shall  be  any  thing 
rather  than  that  demeaning  system  which 
makes  every  thing  a  mere  boon." 

INSTEAD  of  attempting  any  logical  and  meta- 
physical explanation  of  JUSTIFICATION  by  the 
imputed  righteousness  of  Christ,  all  which  at- 
tempts have  human  infirmity  stamped  upon 
them,  I  would  look  at  the  subject  in  the  great 
and  impressive  light  in  which  scripture  places 
it  before  me.  It  teaches  me  to  regard  the  in- 
tervention of  Christ  for  me,  as  the  sole  ground 
of  all  expectation  toward  God.  In  considera- 
tion of  his  sufferings,  my  guilt  is  remitted,  and 
I  am  restored,  to  that  which  I  had  lost  by  sin. 
Let  us  add  to  this,  that  the  sufferings  of  Christ 
were  in  our  stead,  and  we  shall  see  the  point 
of  view  in  which  Scripture  sets  him  forth  as 
the  deserver  and  procurer  to  us  of  all  pardon 
and  grace.  The  thing  is  declared — not  ex- 
plained. Let  us  not  therefore  darken  a  sub- 
ject which  is  held  forth  in  a  prominent  light, 
by  our  idle  endeavors  to  make  it  better  under- 
stood. 

REGENERATION  and  CONVERSION  may  be  distin- 


260  REMAINS  OF  MR.   CECIL. 

guished  from  each  other,  though  they  cannol 
be  separated.  They  may  be  distinguished  ;  as 
a  man's  being  disposed  to  go  in  a  certain  road, 
and  his  actually  going  in  that  road,  may  he  dis- 
tinguished :  for  regeneration  is  God's  disposing 
the  heart  to  himself;  but  conversion  is  the  ac- 
tual turning  of  the  heart  to  God. 

THERE  is  an  immeasurable  distance  between 
the  genuine  and  the  spurious  Christian.  The 
genuine  Christian  may  be  weak,  wild,  eccen- 
tric, fanatical,  faulty  ;  but  he  is  right-hearted  : 
you  find  the  root  of  the  matter  in  him.  The 
spurious  Christian  is  the  most  dangerous  of 
men,  and  one  of  the  most  difficult  to  deal  with. 
You  see  what  he  is,  but  you  find  it  almost  im- 
possible to  keep  clear  of  him.  He  will  seek 
your  acquaintance,  in  order  to  authenticate  his 
own  character — to  indorse  his  own  reputation. 
But  avoid  him.  His  errors  and  vices  will  be 
assigned  to  the  church,  by  an  indiscriminating 
world.  There  is  less  clanger  in  associating 
with  worldly  people  by  profession,  and  more 
tenderness  to  be  exercised  toward  them.  St. 
Paul  teaches  us  the  distinction,  1  Cor.  v.  9-11. 


I  FEEL  disposed  to  treat  carnal  men  and  car- 
nal ministers  with  tenderness,  not  to  shew  them 
that  I  am  a  spiritually  proud  man.  Let  them 
see  that  you  have  some  secret  in  possession, 
which  keeps  you  quiet,  humble,  patient,  holy, 
meek,  and  affectionate,  in  a  turbulent  and 
passionate  world. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  261 

THE  character  of  Balaam  is  not  uncommon  in 
the  church.  I  have  been  amazed  to  see  relig- 
ious professors,  whose  ungodly  character  has 
been  known  and  read  of  all  men,  who  have 
nevertheless  entertained  a  good  opinion  of 
themselves.  I  have  accounted  for  it,  by  sup- 
posing that  they  build  entirely'on  the  distinc- 
tion of  their  views  of  truth  from  those  of  other 
men.  They  "  know  the  points  :  they  see  the 
distinctions  :  and,  moreover,  they  approve  what 
they  know,  and  desire  to  die  the  death  of  the 
righteous  and  be  where  they  are — and,  cer- 
tainly, they  must  be  the  men  of  God's  coun- 
cil, and  the  men  who  stand  on  his  side  against 
the  world  !" 


I  HAVE  long  adopted  an  expedient,  which  I  have 
found  of  singular  service.  I  have  a  shelf  in 
my  study,  for  tried  authors;  and  one  in  my 
mind,  for  tried  principles  and  characters. 

When  an  AUTHOR  has  stood  a  thorough  ex- 
amination, and  will  bear  to  be  taken  as  a  guide, 
I  put  him  on  the  shelf! 

When  I  have  more  fully  made  up  my  mind 
on  a  PRINCIPLE,  I  put  it  on  the  shelf!  A  hun- 
dred subtle  objections  may  be  brought  against 
this  principle:  1  may  meet  with  some  of  them, 
perhaps  :  but  my  principle  is  on  the  shelf! 
Generally,  I  may  be  able  to  recall  the  reasons 
which  weighed  with  me  to  put  it  there  :  but, 
if  not,  I  am  not  to  be  sent  out  to  sea  again. 
Time  was,  when  I  saw  through  and  detected 
all  the  subtleties  that  could  be  brought  against 
it.  I  have  past  evidence  of  having  beea 
23 


262  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

fully  convinced  :  and  there  on  the  shelf  it  shall 
lie! 

When  I  have  turned  a  CHARACTER  over  and 
over  on  all  sides,  and  seen  it  through  and 
through  in  all  situations,  1  put  it  on  the  shelf. 
There  may  be  conduct  in  the  person,  which 
may  stumble  others :  there  may  be  great  in- 
consistencies: there  may  be  strange  and  unac- 
countable turns — but  1  have  put  that  charac- 
ter on  the  shelf:  difficulties  will  all  be  cleared 
up  :  every  thing  will  come  round  again.  I 
should  be  much  chagrined,  indeed,  to  be  oblig- 
ed to  take  a  character  down  which  I  had  once 
put  up  ;  but  that  has  never  been  the  case  with 
me  yet ;  and  the  best  guard  against  it,  is — not 
to  be  too  hasty  in  putting  them  there. 

INFLUENCE,  whether  derived  from  money,  tal- 
ents or  connexions,  is  power  :  there  is  no  per- 
son so  insignificant,  but  he  has  mucb  of  this 
power:  the  little  Israelite  maid,  in  Naaman's 
family,  is  an  instance  :  some,  indeed,  suppose 
that  they  have  more  power  than  they  really 
have  ;  but  we  generally  think  we  have  less 
than  we  in  reality  have.  Whoever  neglects 
or  misapplies  this  power,  is  an  unprofitable 
servant;  unbelief,  timidity,  and  delicacy  often 
cramp  its  exertion  ;  but  it  is  our  duty  to  call 
ourselves  out  to  the  exertion  of  this  power, 
as  Mordecai  called  out  Esther  (ch.  iv  :)  it  is 
our  duty  to  watch  against  every  thing  that 
might  hinder  or  pervert  our  influence  :  for 
mere  regard  to  reputation  will  often  carry 
many  into  error :  who  would  not  follow  Aaron 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  ,          263 

in  worshipping  the  golden  calf?  Even  men  of 
feeble  public  talents  may  acquire  much  influ- 
ence by  kindness  and  consistency  of  character: 
ministers  are  defective  in  resting  their  person- 
al influence  too  much  on  their  public  ministry  : 
time  will  give  weight  to  a  man's  character ; 
and  it  is  one  advantage  to  a  man  to  be  cast  early 
into  his  situation,  that  he  may  earn  a  charac- 
ter. 

THE  instances  of  ARTIFICE  which  occur  in  scrip- 
ture are  not  to  be  imitated,  but  avoided  :  if 
Abraham,  or  Isaac,  or  Jacob  equivocate  in  or- 
der to  obtain  their  ends,  this  is  no  warrant  to 
me  to  do  so :  David's  falsehood  concerning 
Goliath's  sword  argued  distrust  of  God.  If  any 
part  of  the  truth  which  I  am  bound  to  com- 
municate be  concealed,  this  is  sinful  artifice  : 
the  Jesuits  in  China,  in  order  to  remove  the 
offence  "of  the  cross,  declared  that  it  was  a 
falsehood  invented  by  the  Jews  that  Christ  was 
crucified  ;  but  they  were  expelled  from  the 
empire  :  and  this  was  designed,  perhaps,  to  be 
held  up  as  a  warning  to  all  missionaries,  that 
no  good  end  is  to  be  carried  by  artifice. 

But  ADDRESS  is  of  a  different  nature.  There 
is  no  falsehood,  deception,  or  equivocation  in 
address.  St.  Paul,  for  instance,  employed  law- 
ful Address,  and  not  artifice,  when  he  set  the 
Sadducees  and  Pharisees  at  variance :  he  em- 
ployed a  lawful  argument  to  interest  the  Phar- 
isees in  his  favor:  this  was  great  address,  but 
it  had  nothing  of  criminal  artifice.  In  Joshua's 
ambushes  for  the  men  of  Ai  there  was  nothing 


264  REMAINS  0  F  MR.  CECIL. 

sinful:  it  was  a  lawful  stratagem  of  war:  it 
would  have  been  unlawful  to  tell  the  men  of 
Ai  there  was  no  ambush  :  but  they  knew  that 
they  came  out  of  their  city  liable  to  such  am- 
bushes. Christ's  conduct  at  Emmaus,  and  that 
of  the  Angels  of  Sodom,  were  meant  as  trials 
of  the  regard  of  those  with  whom  they  were 
conversing. 

PRECIPITATION  is  acting  without  sufficient 
grounds  of  action.  Youth  is  the  peculiar  sea- 
son of  precipitation  :  the  young  man's  motto  is 
u  onward  !"  There  is  no  such  effectual  cure  of 
this  evil,  as  experience;  when  a  man  is  made 
to  feel  the  effects  of  his  precipitation,  both  in 
body  and  mind  :  and  God  alone  can  thus  bring 
a  man  acquainted  with  himself.  There  is  a 
self-blindness  in  precipitation:  a  precipitate 
man  is,  at  the  time,  a  blind  man  :  That  be  far 
from  thee !  said  St  Peter:  this  shall 'not  hap- 
pen to  thee.  As  the  Lord  livelh,  said  David,  the 
man  that  hath  done  this  thing  shall  surely  die  I 

There  is  great  criminality  in  precipitation. 
A  man  under  its  influence  is  continually  tempt- 
ed to  take  God's  work  out  of  his  hands.  It  is 
not  a  state  of  dependance.  It  betrays  want  of 
patience  with  respect  to  God;  and  want  of 
faith :  /  shall  one  day  perish  by  the  hand  of 
Saul.  It  discovers  a  wnnt  of  charity  :  in  a  rash 
moment  we  may  do  an  injury  to  our  neighbor, 
which  we  can  never  repair. 

There  are  few,  who  do  not  feel  that  they 
are  suffering  through  life  the  effects  of  their 
own  precipitation.  He,  then,  that  tnistelh  his 
own  heart,  is  a  fool.  In  precipitate  moments 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  265 

we  should  learn  to  say,  u  I  am  not  now  the 
man  to  give  an  opinion,  or  to  take  a  single 
step  !" 

METHOD,  as  Mrs.  More  says,  is  the  very  hinge 
of  business  :  and  there  is  no  method  without 
PUNCTUALITY.  Punctuality  is  important,  be- 
cause it  subserves  the  peace  and  good-temper 
of  a  family:  the  want  of  it  not  only  infringes 
on  necessary  duty,  but  sometimes  excludes  this 
duty.  Punctuality  is  important  as  it  gains 
time  :  it  is  like  packing  things  in  a  box  :  a 
good  packer  will  get  in  half  as  much  more  as 
a  bad  one.  The  calmness  of  mind  which  it 
produces,  is  another  advantage  of  punctuality : 
a  disorderly  man  is  always  in  a  hurry :  he  has 
no  time  to  speak  with  you,  because  he  is  going 
elsewhere ;  and  when  he  gets  there,  he  is  too 
late  for  his  business,  or  he  must  hurry  away 
to  another  before  he  can  finish  it.  It  was  a 
wise  maxim  of  the  Duke  of  Newcastle — "  I  do 
one  thing  at  a  time."  Punctuality  gives  weight 
to  character.  u  Such  a  man  has  made  an  ap- 
pointment:  then  1  know  he  will  keep  it."  And 
this  generates  punctuality  in  you :  for  like 
other  virtues,  it  propagates  itself:  servants 
and  children  must  be  punctual,  where  their 
leader  is  so.  Appointments,  indeed,  become 
debts  :  I  owe  you  punctuality,  if  I  have  made 
an  appointment  with  you  ;  and  have  no  right 
to  throw  away  your  time  if  1  do  my  own. 

IT  is  a  difficult  question  in  casuistry — HOTV  FAR 

A  MAN  IS  BOUND  TO  BETRAY  CONFIDENCE  FOR  GEN- 

23* 


266  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

ERAL  GOOD.  Let  it  be  considered  what  conse- 
quences would  follow  from  a  man's  disclosing 
all  the  evil  he  knows.  The  world  would  be- 
come a  nest  of  scorpions.  He  must  often  mis- 
take, and  of  course  calumniate.  Such  is  his 
incapacity  to  determine  what  is  really  evil  in 
his  neighbor,  and  such  are  the  mischiefs  fre- 
quently arising*  from  the  disclosure  of  even 
what  should  Jbe  in  truth  evil,  that  he  seems 
rather  called  on  to  be  silent,  till  circumstances 
render  it  a  case  of  duty  to  remain  silent  no  lon- 
ger. But,  if  this  be  his  GENERAL  RULE,  it  will 
be  his  duty  to  observe  silence  much  oftener  in 
cases  of  CONFIDENCE.  Professional  men — a  min- 
ister— -rl  lawyer — a  medical  man — have  an 
official  secrecy  imposed  on  them.  If  this  were 
not  the  case — a  distrest  conscience  could  never 
imburthen  itself  to  its  confessor.  Incalcula- 
ble injuries  to  health  and  property  must  be 
sustained,  for  want  of  proper  advisers.  This 
applies  in  a  very  high  sense  to  a  minister,  con- 
sidered as  a  confessor — a  director  of  the  con- 
science. An  alarmed  conscience  will  unfold 
its  most  interior  recesses  before  him.  It  is  said 
Dr,  Owen  advised  a  man,  who  under  religious 
convictions  confessed  to  him  a  murder  which 
he  bad  perpetrated  some  years  before,  to  sur- 
render himself  up  to  justice.  The  man  did  so, 
and  was  executed.  I  think  Dr.  Owen  erred 
in  his  advice.  I  thought  myself  right,  in  urg- 
ing on  persons,  who  have  opened  their  hearts 
to  me,  deep  humiliation  before  God  for  crimes 
committed  in  an  unconverted  stale :  but,  as  it 
had  pleased  Him  to  give  a  thorough  hatred  of 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  267 

those  crimes  to  the  mind,  and  a  consequent 
self-loathing  and  humiliation,  arid  yet  to  allow 
.in  His  providence  that  they  should  have  re- 
mained undiscovered,  I  judged  that  the  matter 
might  be  safely  left  with  Him.  Yet  there  may 
be  cases  in  which  general  consequences  require 
that  confidence  should  be  betrayed.  Such 
cases  usually  relate  to  EVIL  IN  PROGRESS.  To 
prevent  or  counteract  such  evil,  it  may  be  nec- 
essary to  disclose  what  has  been  intrusted  in 
confidence.  Yet  the  party  should  be  honestly 
warned,  if  its  purposes  are  not  changed,  what 
duty  your  conscience  will  require. 

I  HAVE  felt  twice  in  my  life  very  extraordinary 
impressions  under  sermons,  and  that  from  men 
least  calculated  to  affect  me.  A  man  of  great 
powers,  but  so  dissipated  on  every  thing  that 
he  knew  nothing — a  frivolous,  futile  babbler, 
whom  I  was  ready  almost  to  despise — surprised 
and  chained  me  so,  in  my  own  church  at  Lewes, 
that  I  was  thunderstruck:  I  think  it  was  concern- 
ing the  dove  not  finding  rest  for  the  sole  of  her 
foot :  he  felt  the  subject  strongly  himself;  and 
in  spite  of  all  my  prejudices  against  him  and 
my  real  knowledge  of  his  character,  he  made 
me  feel  it  as  I  have  scarcely  ever  done  before 
or  since.  In  the  other  instance,  1  had  to  do 
with  a  very  different  character :  he  was  a  sim- 
ple, but  weak  man  :  it  pleased  God,  however, 
to  shoot  an  arrow  by  his  hand  into  my  heart : 
1  had  been  some  time  in  a  dry,  fruitless  frame, 
and  was  persuading  myself  that  all  was  going 
on  well :  he  said  one  day,  at  Lewes,  with  an 


268  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

indescribable  simplicity,  that  "  men  might 
cheer  themselves  in  the  morning,  and  they 
might  pass  on  tolerably  well  perhaps  without 
God  at  noon  ;  but  the  cool  of  the  day  was  com- 
ing, when  God  would  come  down  to  talk  with 
them."  It  was  a  message  from  God  to  me  :  i 
felt  as  though  God  had  descended  into  the 
church:  and  was  about  to  call  me  to  my  account ! 
In  the  former  instance,  I  was  more  surprised  and 
astonished  than  aifected  religiously  ;  but,  in 
this,  I  was  unspeakably  moved. 

CONSTITUTIONAL  bias  is  a  suspicious  interpreter 
of  PROVIDENTIAL  LEADINGS.  A  man's  besetting 
sin  lies  in  that  to  which  his  nature  is  most  in- 
clined ;  and,  therefore,  to  walk  wisely  and  ho- 
lily,  he  should  be  very  jealous  of  such  supposed 
leadings  in  Providence  as  draw  with  his  constitu- 
tional propensity.  He  is  never  safe,  unless  he 
is  in  the  act  of  collaring  his  nature  as  a  rebel, 
and  forcing  it  into  submission.  A  sanguine  man 
sees  a  sign  and  token  in  every  thing  :  in  every 
ordinary  occurrence,  his  imagination  hears  a 
call :  his  pious  fancy  is  the  source  and  food  of 
an  eager,  disquieted,  and  restless  habit  of  mind. 
An  enterprising  man  has  great  facility  in  finding 
God  in  whatever  seems  to  open  to  honor,  or 
influence,  or  power.  But  he  has  lost  the  right 
estimate  of  things :  if  God  seem  to  draw  with 
an  enterprising  mind,  the  man  should  stand  and 
tremble.  Providence  may  really  lead  some 
retired  and  humble  men  into  situations  which 
the  ambitious  man  would  covet ;  but,  even  in 
that  case,  it  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  an  evi- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  269 

dence  of  favor,  so  much  as  an  increase  of  trial 
and  responsibility  :  but  he  can  never  open  be- 
fore an  enterprising  and  ambitious  character, 
unless  in  judgment,  or  in  such  imminence  of 
trial  as  should  call  the  man  to  self-suspicion 
and  humility.  A  pleasurable  man  easily  discerns 
God's  hand  in  every  thing,  which  seems  to  put 
his  favorite  indulgences  within  his  power:  such 
a  thing  was  a  great  providence  !  and  he  is  vastly 
grateful!  while  he  sees  not  that  he  is  led 
away  to  broken  cisterns.  An  idle  man  has  a 
constant  tendency  to  torpidity.  He  has  adopted 
the  Indian  maxim — that  it  is  better  to  walk 
than  to  run,  and  better  to  stand,  than  to  walk, 
and  better  to  sit  than  to  stand,  and  better  to 
lie  than  to  sit.  He  hugs  himself  into  the  no- 
tion, that  God  calls  him  to  be  quiet: — that  HE 
is  not  made  for  bustling  and  noise  ! — that  such 
and  such  a  thing  plainly  shew  him  he  ought  to 
retire  and  sit  still !  A  busy  man  is  never  at 
rest:  he  sees  himself  called  so  often  into  ac- 
tion, that  he  digs  too  much  to  suffer  any  thing 
to  grow,  and  waters  so  profusely  that  he  drowns. 
The  danger  in  all  these  cases  is,  lest  a  man 
should  bless  himself  in  his  SNARES! 

ADAM  well  observes : — u  A  poor  country  parson, 
fighting  against  the  Devil  in  his  parish,  has  no- 
bler ideas  than  Alexander  had."  Men  of  the 
world  know  nothing  of  true  glory  :  they  know 
nothing  of  the  grandeur  of  that  sentiment — 
Thou,  O  Goc/,  art  the  thing  that  I  long  for!  You 
may,  perhaps,  find  this  sentiment  in  the  corner 
of  some  monastery,  where  a  poor  ignorant 
creature  is  mumbling  over  his  prayers:  or,  it 


270  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

may  even  be  found  to  exist  with  the  nonsense 
and  fanaticism  of  a  Swedenborgian ;  but,  where- 
ever  it  is,  it  is  true  dignity. 

Look  at  the  bravery  of  the  world !  Go  into 
the  Park.  Who  is  the  object  of  admiration 
there? — The  captain  swelling  and  strutting  at 
the  head  of  his  corps  !  And  what  is  there  at 
the  court  ? — "  Make  way  !  Make  way  !"  And 
who  is  this?  A  bit  of  clay,  with  a  ribbon  tied 
round  it !  Now  it  makes  nothing  against  the 
comparative  emptiness  and  littleness  of  these 
things,  that  I  or  any  man  should  be  ensnared 
by  them,  and  play  the  fool  with  the  rest  of  the 
species.  Truth  is  truth,  and  dignity  is  dignity 
in  spite  of  the  errors  and  folly  of  any  man  liv- 
ing. 

But  this  is  the  outside.  What  are  the  great- 
est minds,  and  the  noblest  projects  of  the  world, 
compared  with  a  Christian  !  Take  Mr.  Pitt  for 
an  instance :  and  contrast  him  with  the  most 
insignificant  old  woman  in  the  church  of  Christ ! 
If  the  Bible  be  not  true,  you  have  no  standard  : 
all  your  reasonings,  and  science,  and  philosophy, 
and  metaphysics,  are  gross  absurdity  and  folly. 
But,  if  the  Bible  be  true,  Mr.  Pitt,  great  and 
noble  as  he  is,  yet,  considered  as  a  mere  politi- 
cian, even  Mr.  Pitt  has  a  little,  contracted, 
mean  mind! — a  driveller! — an  earth-worm! 
Compared  with  his  projects  and  schemes,  the 
old  woman,  who  rises  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  lights  her  farthing  candle,  stands  all 
day  over  her  wash-tub,  at  night  puts  on  her 
red  cloak,  steals  out  to  some  place  of  worship, 
hears  the  truths  of  the  gospel  mangled  per- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  271 

haps  with  ignorant  yet  honest  zeal,  but  draws 
in  good  into  an  honest  and  prepared  heart — 
why,  this  woman  is  a  heroine — a  noble  mind 
— compared  with  the  greatest  of  men,  consider- 
ed as  a  mere  man  of  this  world  ! 

Bishop  Wilkins  has  said  admirably,  That 
nothing  in  man  is  great,  but,  so  far  as  it  is  con- 
nected with  God.  The  only  wise  thing  record- 
ed of  Xerxes,  is  his  reflection  on  the  sight  of  his 
army — That  not  one  of  that  immense  multitude 
would  survive  a  hundred  years  :  it  seems  to 
have  been  a  momentary  gleam  of  true  light 
and  feeling. 


APPENDIX. 

REMARKS  BY  MR.  CECIL,  COMMUNICATED  TO 
THE  EDITOR  BY  SOME  FRIENDS. 


A  HIDING-PLACE  implies  secrecy.  He,  who  can 
say  unto  God,  Thou  art  my  hiding-place,  may 
go  abroad  about  his  affairs,  and  may  pass 
through  a  thousand  dangers,  and  yet  at  the 
same  time,  have  such  a  hiding  place,  in  the 
favor  and  protection  of  God,  that,  when  he 
seems  to  be  exposed  on  every  side,  still  he  is 
secured  and  hidden  from  every  evil. 

A  GREAT  man,  however  high  his  office  and  tal- 
ents, is  dependent  on  little  things.  Jonah  was 
exceeding  glad  of  his  gourd.  However  splendid 
and  towering,  man  is  crushed  beneath  the  moth, 
if  God  does  not  uphold  him  :  so  that,  while  we 
are  admiring  the  great  man  as  he  is  called,  and 
however  he  may  be  disposed  to  admire  him- 
self and  to  speak  great  swelling  words  of  vanity, 
facts  will  show  that  he  is  a  poor,  dependent 
creature,  who  cannot  live  a  moment  without 
God.  If  the  Holy  Spirit  opens  his  eyes,  he 
will  perceive  that  he  cannot  stand  alone  ;  but 
can  only  support  himself  and  climb,  like  the 
ivy,  by  clasping  one  stronger  than  himself. 

DREAMS  are  common  to  sleeping.  No  man  be- 
gins to  slumber  in  religion,  but  he  falls  into 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  273 

some  golden  dream.  It  is  a  device  of  Satan  to 
seduce  men  into  a  drowsy  state,  and  then  to 
beguile  them  with  some  dream.  When  the 
duties  of  religion  become  irksome,  then  he  pre- 
sents some  novelty  which  allures  and  deceives 
us  :  whereas,  had  we  been  in  life  and  vigor, 
we  should  have  detected  the  deceit. 


THERE  are  no  greater  objects  of  pity  in  the 
world,  than  men  who  are  admired  by  all  around 
for  their  nice  discernment  and  fine  taste  in  ev- 
ery thing  of  a  worldly  nature,  but  have  no  taste 
for  the  riches  that  endure  for  ever — no  love 
for  God  or  his  word — no  love  for  Christ  or 
their  souls.  In  such  a  state,  however  admired 
or  respected,  they  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God. 

A  SPIRITUAL  man  is  a  character  that  rises  far 
above  all  worldly  wisdom  and  science.  He  is 
described  by  our  Lord  as  born  of  the  Spirit. 
Spiritual  senses  are  given  to  him.  He  has  a 
spiritual  TASTE,  that  rejects  whatever  is  injuri- 
ous, and  gladly  receives  whatever  is  salutary 
to  the  spiritual  life  :  he  desires  the  sincere  milk 
of  the  word,  that  he  may  grow  thereby.  He  has 
a  spiritual  SIGHT  :  he  looks  not  at  the  things  which 
are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen.  He 
SMELLS  a  sweet  savor  in  the  things  of  God  :  His 
name  is  as  ointment  poured  forth.  He  has  a 
quick  FEELING.  And  he  has  a  spiritual  EAR  : 
My  sheep  hear  my  voice.  He  lives  in  a  world  of 
his  own  :  he  is  tried  by  spiritual  conflicts,  and 
supported  by  spiritual  comforts.  If  the  things 
24 


274  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

of  God  do  not  afford  him  consolation  he  droops, 
and  nothing  in  this  world  can  lift  up  his  head  : 
he  will  say  to  every  other  object,  Miserable 
comforters  are  ye  all !  He  is  pursuing  a  spiritu- 
al end,  and  while  others  hoast  and  are  puffed 
up  with  their  great  attainments,  he  is  humbled 
in  the  dust,  and  gives  all  glory  to  God. 


THERE  are  critical  circumstances,  under  which 
a  man  who  is  in  general  on  his  guard,  is  called 
to  redouble  his  Christian  vigilance.  If  he  is 
about  to  encounter  imminent  danger,  for  in- 
stance, he  will  take  care  to  secure  himself  by 
every  possible  means.  A  house  may  be  well 
guarded  and  secured,  but,  if  there  is  any  fear 
and  expectation  of  thieves,  every  place  will 
be  doubly  barred  and  watched.  Good  care 
may  be  taken,  in  the  general  habits  of  a  fami- 
ly, to  guard  against  fire;  but  if  it  be  known 
that  a  spark  has  fallen  among  any  combusti- 
bles, every  possible  search  is  made  to  discover 
it  and  to  prevent  its  ravages.  Thus  should 
every  servant  of  Christ  redouble  his  guard  in 
critical  circumstances.  He  should  remember, 
that,  while  awful  providences  seem  to  be 
threatening  us,  and  while  we  are  surrounded 
with  dangers  on  every  side,  and  while  the  en- 
emy of  our  souls  is  going  about  as  a  roaring  li- 
on seeking  whom  he  may  devour,  it  ill  becomes 
us  to  trifle.  Let  us  stir  up  ourselves,  and  at- 
tend to  our  Master's  admonition,  Let  your  loins 
be  girded  about,  and  your  lights  burning,  and  ye 
yourselves  like  unto  men  that  wait  for  their  Lord. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  275 

IF  St.  Paul  had  not  been  an  entire  character, 
he  would  not  have  spoken  so  ingenuously  of 
himself  as  he  does  in  the  7th  to  the  Romans. 
He  would  have  acted  as  many  others  have  done : 
he  would  have  put  the  best  aspect  on  things. 
He  would  not  have  opened  the  chambers  of  im- 
agery ;  and  have  shewed,  while  all  the  church 
was  admiring  him,  what  was  passing  within. 
Here  were  real  simplicity  and  humility — no- 
thing of  that  Pharisee  which  he  once  was. 
The  Pharisee  is  become  a  Publican  :  the  real- 
ity is  coming  forward  ;  and  he  seems  to  say,  u  Is 
any  man  groaning  under  a  body  of  sin  and 
death  ? — on  searching  his  heart,  does  he  find 
that  therein  dwelleth  no  good  thing  ? — This  is 
my  case  also  ;  and  if  I  have  any  thing  where- 
in to  glory,  it  is  in  Christ  and  not  in  myself." 


CHARITY  should  teach  us  to  exercise  hope  and 
love  toward  all  men — hope  toward  those  who 
are  without,  and  love  toward  those  who  are 
within,  the  walls  of  the  city  of  God.  Of  those 
without,  we  are  apt  to  despair  too  soon,  and  to 
say,  There  is  no  hope;  when  we  should  labor 
to  allure  them  into  the  church  of  God,  and  to 
impress  them  with  a  sense  of  its  glory  and  its 
privileges.  Toward  those  within  the  walls, 
we  sometimes  fail  in  the  exercise  of  love  :  we 
are  too  much  influenced  in  our  feelings  toward 
them  by  a  difference  of  education,  taste,  or 
disposition  ;  while  the  great  question  ought  to 
be,  "  Are  they  really  fellow- citizens  with  the 
saints,  and  of  the  household  of  God  ?" — and  if  so, 
whatever  their  defects  may  be,  we  ought  to 


276  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

honor  and  love  them  as  the  temples  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 


WHEN  Christians  are  Delivered  from  trouble, 
they  are  apt  soon  to  forget  it ;  and  to  lose  sight 
of  the  holy  resolutions  formed  while  under  af- 
fliction: the  strong  impressions  soon  decay. 
Whereas  if  we  were  enabled  to  glory  in  tribu- 
lation— if  our  conscience  were  made  tender — 
if  more  reality  were  put  into  our  prayers — we 
should  take  heed  how  we  give  way  to  an  evil 
heart  of  unbelief:  we  should  remember,  too, 
how  our  troubles  were  brought  on  us,  and  the 
benefits  which  we  received  while  they  contin- 
ued :  we  should  watch  that  we  might  not  esti- 
mate them  falsely  :  and  at  all  times,  we  should 
bear  it  in  our  mind,  that  it  is  not  suffering 
which  hurts  us,  but  sin. 

SOME  men  will  follow  Christ  on  certain  condi- 
tions— if  he  will  not  lead  them  through  rough 
roads — if  he  will  not  enjoin  them  any  painful 
tasks — if  the  sun  and  wind  do  not  annoy  them 
— if  he  will  remit  a  part  of  his  plan  and  order. 
But  the  true  Christian,  who  has  the  spirit  of 
Jesus,  will  say,  as  Ruth  said  to  Naomi, tfc  Whith- 
er thou  goest,  I  will  go  !  whatever  difficulties, 
and  dangers  may  be  in  the  way. 

IT  is  our  happiness,  as  Christians,  that,  howev- 
er we  may  change  our  place,  we  shall  never 
change  our  object.  Whatever  we  lose,  we 
shall  not  lose  that  which  we  esteem  better 
ihan  life.  God  has  made  to  us  this  gra- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CKCJL.  277 

cious  promise — /  will  dwell  in  them,  and  walk 
in  them.  And  though  we  may  endure  much  af- 
fliction, and  pass  through  many  deep  waters, 
yet  this  is  our  honour  and  comfort,  THE  LORD 
is  WITH  us !  and  then — what  is  difficulty  ? — 
what  is  tribulation  ? — what  is  death  ! — Death 
to  a  Christian  is  but  an  entrance  into  the  city 
of  God!  it  is  but  joining  a  more  blessed  com- 
pany, and  singing  in  a  more  exalted  strain,  than 
he  can  do  in  this  world. 

THE  WAY  of  every  man  is  declarative  of  the 
END  of  that  man. 


How  difficult  is  it  to  show  those  who  are  in  the 
house  of  mourning,  that  God  is  teaching  them, 
that,  if  they  had  not  leaned  so  much  on  their 
creature-supports,  they  had  not  been  so  brok- 
en !  Still  they  are  crying,  O  Absalom,  my  son, 
my  son !  Why  is  it  that  we  are  shocked  to  see 
the  world  falling  to  pieces  around  us,  when  we 
shall  leave  it  ourselves  to-morrow — perhaps 
to-day?  We  forget  that  it  is  the  design  of  God 
to  dash  every  thing  to  pieces.  It  is  by  these 
trials  that  we  begin  to  learn  we  have  been 
walking  by  sense  rather  than  by  faith- — and 
looking  at  our  children  and  our  possessions  as 
though  we  were  never  to  lose  them. 


IT  is  by  FAITH  that  we  are  relieved  under  the 
difficulties  of  SENSE.  Sense  revolts,  when  it 
views  our  great  high  Priest  on  the  cross — 
Faith  glories  in  this  object !  Sense  talks  like 
the  Jews :  He  saved  others  :  himself  he  cannot 
24* 


278  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

save :  if  he  be  now  the  King  of  Israel,  let  him 
come  down  from  the  cross,  and  we  will  believe 
him. — Faith  lays  hold  on  him  as  the  Savior  of 
the  world,  and  cries,  Lord!  remember  me  when 
thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom!  Sense  envies  the 
prosperous  worlding,  and  calls  him  happy — 
Faith  goes  into  the  sanctuary,  to  see  what  his 
end  will  be.  When  the  waves  run  high,  Sense 
clamors — Faith  says  "  Speak  hut  the  word,  and 
the  winds  and  waves  shall  obey  thee."  When 
we  feel  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  tak- 
ing down,  Sense  sinks — but  Faith  says,fFe  know, 
that,  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  be  dis- 
solved, we  have  a  building  of  God,  a  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

WISDOM  prepares  for  the  worst :  but  folly  leaves 
the  worst  for  that  day  when  it  comes. 

ABRAHAM  teaches  us  the  right  way  of  convers- 
ing with  God  : — And  Abraham  fell  on  his  face, 
and  God  talked  with  him  !  When  we  plead 
with  Him  our  faces  should  be  in  the  dust  :  we 
shall  not  then  speak  lightly  of  him,  nor  com- 
plain ;  nor  will  there  be  any  more  boasting. 
We  shall  abase  ourselves  and  exalt  God ! 

THE  Christian's  secret  intercourse  with  God 
will  make  itself  manifest  to  the  world.  We  may 
not  see  the  husbandman  cast  the  seed  into  the 
ground,  yet  when  the  corn  grows  and  ripens 
we  know  that  it  was  sown.  The  mere  profes- 
sor, who  may  be  found  every  where  but  in  his 
secret  chamber,  may  think  that  with  care  he 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  279 

shall  pass  for  a  good  Christian  :  but  he  mis- 
takes, for  the  spirit  WILL  discover  itself,  of 
what  sort  it  is.  He,  who  would  walk  snfely 
and  honorably,  must  walk  closely  with  God  in 
secret. 

A  VARIETY  of  circumstances  render  the  sinner's 
first  approaches  to  Christ  difficult.  They, 
who  tind  an  EASY  access,  will  find  an  easy  de- 
parture when  troubles  arise. 

THE  most  likely  method  we  can  take  to  hasten 
the  removal  of  what  we  love,  is,  to  value  it 
too  much — to  think  on  it  with  endless  anxiety 
— to  LIVE  on  its  favor  with  solicitude.  It  shall 
soon  either  become  a  thorn  in  our  side,  or  be 
taken  away. 

BE  ye  not  unequally  yoked.  If  a  believer  mar- 
ries an  unbeliever,  the  miseries  which  ensue 
are  endless.  Were  they  determined,  in  kind- 
ness, to  grant  all  thej  could  to  each  other; 
yet  they  live  as  in  two  separate  worlds'.  There 
is  a  great  gulf  between  them,  which  cannot 
be  passed  without  the  grace  of  God  ;  on  which, 
while  all  should  hope  and  pray  for  it,  none 
should  presume.  They  cannot  taste  the  same 
pleasures,  nor  share  the  same  sorrows,  nor 
pursue  the  same  objects,  nor  walk  in  the  same 
path.  What  hope,  then,  can  there  be  of  com- 
fort? Every  Christian  finds  the  corruptions  of 
his  own  heart,  the  snares  of  the  world,  and  the 
devices  of  Satan,  together  with  innumerable 
secret  anxieties,  quite  enough  to  struggle  with 


280  REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL. 

in  his  journey  to  heaven,  without  adding  anoth- 
er to  his  difficulties. 


IN  studying  the  word  of  God,  digest  it  under 
these  two  heads :  either  as  removing  obstruc- 
tions, which  keep  God  and  thee  asunder  ;  or 
as  supplying  some  uniting  power  to  hring  God 
and  thee  together. 


PERHAPS  it  is  a  greater  energy  of  Divine  Pow- 
er, which  keeps  the  Christian  from  day  to  day, 
from  year  to  year — praying,  hoping,  running, 
believing — against  all  hindrances — which  main- 
tains him  as  a  LIVING  martyr :  than  that  which 
bears  him  up  for  an  hour  in  sacrificing  himself 
at  the  stake. 

BY  the  course  of  his  Providence,  God  will  as- 
sert the  liberty  of  his  council. 


LET  me  ask,  every  day,  what  reference  it  has 
to  the  Day  of  judgment;  and  cultivate  a  dis- 
position to  be  reminded  of  that  day. 

INDULGE  not  a  gloomy  contempt  of  any  thing 
which  is  in  itself  good  :  only  let  it  keep  its  place. 

GOD  has  called  us  to  meet  his  best  gift  to  man 
— his  only-begotten  Son — not  in  a  splendid 
court,  but  in  a  manger  ! — in  the  wilderness  ! 
— in  Gethsemane  ! — before  the  high  priest, 
when  they  spat  in  his  face  and  buffeted  him, 
and  smote  him  ! — at  the  cross  ! — and  at  the 
sepulchre  !  Thus  it  is  that  he  corrects  the 
pride  and  ambition  of  the  human  heart ! 


REMAINS    OF  MR.  CECIL.  281 

THERE  is  in  sin,  not  only  an  infinite  mischief 
done  to  the  man,  but  it  is  accompanied  by  an 
infatuation  that  surpasses  all  description.  When 
the  heart  declines  from  God,  and  loses  com- 
munion with  Christ,  the  man  resembles  one  in 
a  consumption,  who  is  on  the  brink  of  the  grave 
and  yet  talks  of  a  speedy  recovery  !  A  death 
will  come  on  the  spirit,  which  will  be  perceiv- 
ed and  felt  by  all  around:  yel,  when  the  most 
affectionate  friends  of  such  a  man  attempt  to 
expostulate,  they  often  find  him  not  only  in- 
sensible, but  obstinate  and  stout-hearted.  He 
who,  like  Samson,  the  champion  of  Israel,  lays 
his  head  in  the  lap  of  temptation,  will  rarely 
rise  again  as  he  lay  down  :  he  may  say,  /  will 
go  out,  as  at  other  times  before,  and  shake  my- 
self: but  he  wists  not  that  the  Lord  is  departed 
from  him  ! — Strangers  have  devoured  his  strength^ 
and  he  knoweth  it  not ! 

THE  whole  life  of  Christ  was  one  continued  ex- 
pression of  the  same  desire. — uLet  me  lay  a- 
side  my  glory — let  me  expire  on  the  cross — so 
that  thy  kingdom  may  come  !"  And  the  blood 
of  every  martyr,  who  ever  suffered  in  the 
cause  of  God,  cried  u  Let  thy  Kingdom  come  !" 

GROWTH  in  grace  manifests  ilsolf  by  a  simplici- 
ty— that  is,  a  greater  naturalness  of  character. 
There  will  be  more  usefulness,  and  less  noise; 
more  tenderness  of  conscience,  and  less  scru- 
pulosity :  there  will  be  more  peace,  more 
humility  :  when  the  full  corn  is  in  the  ear,  it 
bends  down  because  it  is  full. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

THE  history  of  all  the  great  characters  of  the 
Bible  is  summed  up  in  this  one  sentence  : — 
they  acquainted  themselves  with  God,  and  ac- 
quiesced in  his  will  in  all  things. 

GOD'S  way  of  answering  the  Christian's  prayer 
for  an  increase  of  patience,  experience,  hope, 
and  love — usually  is  to  put  him  into  the  fur- 
nace of  tribulation.  St.  James  therefore  says, 
Count  it  all  joy  when  ye  fall  into  divers  tempta- 
tions. People  of  the  world  count  it  all  joy  when 
they  are  in  ease  and  affluence  ;  but  a  Chris- 
tian is  taught  to  count  it  all  joy  when  he  is  tried 
as  gold  in  the  fire. 


IN  Christ  we  see  the  most  perfect  exhibition 
of  every  grace,  to  which  we,  as  his  followers, 
are  called.  Let  there  be  but  in  us  that  pover- 
ty of  spirit — that  disposition  to  bear  with  pro- 
vocations, and  to  forgive  injuries — that  obe- 
dience to  God  and  acquisescence  in  his  will — 
that  perseverance  in  doing  good — that  love 
which  overcometh  all  difficulties — that  meek- 
ness, humility,  patience,  compassion,  and  gen- 
tleness which  were  found  in  Christ ;  and  if  any 
man  should  be  so  ignorant  and  debased  as  to 
imagine  that  this  is  not  TRUE  DIGNITY  OF  CHARAC- 
TER, let  it  be  remembered  that  this  was  the 
mind  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus ! 


LOOKING  back  is  more  than  we  can  sustain  with- 
out going  back ! 

WHEN  the  multitudes  followed  our  Lord  on  a 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  283 

particular  occasion,  although  he  wished  for  re- 
tirement and  had  gone  purposely  to  seek  it, 
yet  he  gave  up  his  design  and  attended  to  them. 
Mark  the  condescension  and  tenderness  of 
such  conduct,  in  opposition  to  a  sour,  monastic, 
morose  temper.  We  are  too  fond  of  our  own 
will.  We  want  to  be  doing  what  we  fancy 
mighty  things;  but  the  great  point  is,  to  do 
small  things,  when  called  to  them,  in  a  right 
spirit. 

THE  world  will  allow  of  a  vehemence  approach- 
ing to  ecstasy,  on  almost  any  occasion  but  that, 
which,  above  all  others,  will  justify  it. 


A  CHRISTIAN  will  find  his  parenthesis  for  prayer, 
even  through  his  busiest  hours. 

WE  treat  sensible  and  present  things  as  reali- 
ties, and  future  and  eternal  things  as  fables  : 
whereas  the  reverse  should  be  our  habit. 


AN  Enthusiast  will  COURT  trouble,  and  that  for 
ITSELF:  but  a  Christian,  while  he  does  not 
COURT  it,  yet  rejoices  in  it  :  not  for  its  own 
sake,  but  because  he  knows  that  tribulation 
toorketk  patience^  and  patience  experience,  and  ex- 
perience hope — a  hope  that  maketh  not  ashamed. 
While  patience  is  the  fruit  of  his  conflicts  and 
trials,  he  gains  experience  by  them  :  he  ac- 
quires the  knowledge  which  a  traveller  ob- 
tains in  performing  a  long  journey :  he  is  in 
possession  of  a  bundle  of  choice  maxims  and 
observations,  gathered  with  much  pains  :  he  is 


284  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

taught  by  them  to  know  his  own  heart :••  he  is 
brought  acquainted  with  the  faithfulness  and 
mercy  of  God,  in  holding  him  up  in  the  deep 
waters,  and  accompanying  him  through  the 
tire  of  affliction.  And  this  experience  produ- 
ces hope — a  hope  that  he  is  savingly  united  to 
Christ — a  hope  that  he  is  in  the  church  of  God 
— a  hope  of  the  glory  of  God — a  hope  that 
maketh  not  ashamed,  keeping  us  steady  at  an- 
chor through  every  storm,  and  when  every 
other  support  fails. 


THERE  are  but  two  states  in  the  world  which 
may  be  pronounced  happy — either  that  of  the 
man  who  rejoices  in  the  light  of  God's  coun- 
tenance, or  that  of  him  who  mourns  after  it. 


LET  the  warm-hearted  Christian  be  careful  of 
receiving  a  wrong  bias  in  religion.  When  a 
ball  is  in  motion,  almost  any  thing  presented  to 
it  obliquely  will  turn  it  wholly  out  of  its  course. 
Beware,  therefore  of  a  wrong  direction  in 
Christianity.  Fix  your  attention  ever  on  such 
examples  as  St.  John  and  St.  Paul,  and  hear 
how  they  speak  :  If  any  man  love  not  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  Anathema,  Maranatha ! 


GOD  denies  a  Christian  nothing,  but  with  a  de- 
sign to  give  him  something  better. 


GOD  teaches  some  of  his  best  lessons  in  the 
school  of  affliction.  It  is  said  that  St.  Paul's 
Epistle  to  the  Ephesians  has  quite  the  spirit 
and  air  of  a  prison,  That  school  must  be  truly 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  285 

excellent,  which  produces  such  experience  and 
wisdom. 


WE  cannot  build  too  confidently  on  the  merits 
of  Christ,  as  our  only  hope  ;  nor  can  we  think 
too  much  of  the  mind  that  was  in  Christ,  as  our 
great  example. 

A  CHRISTIAN  does  not  glory  in  tribulation,  as  he 
does  in  the  cross  of  Christ.  The  Cro^s  of  Christ 
is  the  OBJECT  in  which  he  glories :  but  he  glories 
in  tribulation  as  an  appointed  MEANS  and  INSTRU- 
MENT in  the  hand  of  God,  of  accomplishing  his 
own  pleasure  and  promoting  our  real  good. 


NEVER  was  there  a  man  of  deep  piety,  who 
has  not  been  brought  into  extremities — who 
has  not  been  put  into  the  fire — who  has  not 
been  taught  to  say,  Though  he  slay  me  yet  will  I 
trust  in  him ! 


A  CHRISTIANAS  steps  are  not  only  safe,  but  steady: 
— He,  that  believeth,  shall  not  make  haste.  When 
DANGER  approaches,  he  shall  not  be  thrown 
into  confusion  from  his  alarm,  so  as  to  be  rea- 
dy to  say  "  Whither  shall  I  run  ?"  but,  finding 
himself  on  safe  ground,  he  shall  be  quiet.  Be- 
ing built  on  the  sure  foundation  and  stablished 
in  Christ,  he  shall  not  make  haste  in  his  EXPEC- 
TATIONS :  he  shall  not  make  haste  with  respect 
to  the  promises,  as  though  they  were  long  in 
their  accomplishment,  knowing  that  all  the  pro- 
mises of  God  are  Yea,  and,  in  Christ,  Jlmen  !  In 
AFFLICTION,  he  shall  not  make  haste  in  running 
25 


286  REMAINS  OP  MR.  CECIL. 

to  broken  cisterns ;  as  Asa  did,  when,  in  his 
disease,  he  sought  not  to  the  Lord,  but  to  the  physi- 
cians :  he  shall  not  be  alarmed,  or  driven  about, 
as  one  who  has  not  a  strong-hold  to  enter;  but 
shall  say,  None  of  these  things  move  me  !  neither 
count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I  might 
Jinish  my  course  with  joy  !  With  respect  to  his 
CHARACTER,  the  Christian  shall  not  make  haste  : 
if  a  cloud  come  over  his  reputation,  and  men 
will  suspect  his  integrity  without  grounds,  he 
will  commit  himself  to  God,  and  wait  his  oppor- 
tunity, and  not  make  rash  haste  to  justify  and 
clear  his  character. 


WHEN  a  man  can  say,  "  My  God  !"  if  he  can 
add  no  more,  that  is  sufficient :  for  my  God  is 
all-wise  in  appointing,  and  almighty  to  uphold 
and  to  deliver.  My  God  is  a  Father  to  me  in 
Christ :  yea  he  is  a  Father  who  hid  his  face 
from  Christ  for  my  good.  If,  then,  1  am  in 
darkness,  let  me  remember  that  God  never  had 
a  Son  that  was  not  sometimes  in  the  dark ;  for 
even  Christ,  his  only-begotten  Son,  cried  out 
.My  God  i  My  God!  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ? 

FEW  Christians,  if  any,  sufficiently  honor  Christ, 
as  governing  their  concerns.  They  do  not 
say,  "  Now,  while  I  am  praying  on  earth,  my 
Saviour  is  working  for  me  in  heaven.  He  is 
saying  to  one, c  Do  this !' — and  to  another, '  Do 
that ! — and  all  for  my  good  !"  While  Jeremiah 
was,  doubtless,  crying  to  God  out  of  the  dun- 
geon, Ebed-melech  was  interceding  for  him 
with  the  king,  and  they  were  preparing  the 
means  of  his  deliverance.  See  Jer.  xxxviii. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  287 

LET  the  restless,  comfortless  state  of  a  backsli- 
der, distinguish  him  from  an  apostate. 

IF  you  have  set  out  in  the  ways  »f  God,  do  not 
stumble  at  present  difficulties.  Go  forward. 
Look  not  behind. 


SOMETHING  must  be  left  as  a  test  of  the  loyalty 
of  the  heart — in  Paradise,  the  Tree  :  in  Israel, 
a  Canaanite  :  in  us,  Temptation. 

RELIGIOUS  joy,  is  a  holy,  a  delicate  deposit.  It 
is  a  pledge  of  something  greater,  and  must  not 
be  thought  lightly  of:  for  let  it  be  withdrawn 
only  for  a  little,  and,  notwithstanding  the  ex- 
perience we  may  have  had  of  it,  we  shall  find  no 
living  creature  can  restore  it  to  us,  and  we  can 
only,  with  David,  cry,  Restore  unto  me^  O  Lore?, 
the  joy  of  thy  salvation. 


A  CHRISTIAN  should  beware  of  that  temptaion, 
Why  should  I  wait  for  the  Lord  any  longer  ?  He 
should  remember,  if  it  is  a  time  of  extremity, 
that  is  the  very  reason  why  he  should  wait. 
If  his  way  is  so  hedged  up  that  he  cannot  go 
forward,  he  should  say,  "Now  is  the  time  for 
me  to  stand  still,  and  wait  till  God  opens  my 
way."  When  my  spirit  was  overwhelmed  with" 
in  me,  then  thou  knewest  my  path. 


HUMAN  nature  is  always  putting  forth  its  fears 
and  unbelief,  in  anxious  questions  concerning  to- 
morrow^ or  some  threatening  calamity  :  but 
Christ  says  to  every  Christian,  "  Let  not  your 


288  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid :  I  go  to 
prepare  a  place  for  you;  and  I  will  protect  and 
guide  yon  throughout  the  journey  thither." 

God  with  us4.s  the  traveller's  security.  Jacob 
was  destitute  :  he  had  a  long  and  dreary  jour- 
ney, but  God  said,  Behold  I  a  in  with  thee,  and 
will  keep  thee  in  all  places  whither  thou  goest. 

GOD  calls  not  for  thousands  of  rams  nor  ten  thou- 
sands of  rivers  of  oil:  he  calls  not  his  creatures 
to  live  in  sackcloth  and  ashes,  nor  sets  (hem  to 
perform  long  pilgrimages,  nor  to  inflict  pains  on 
their  bodies.  No  !  the  rigors  of  superstition 
are  from  MAN.  The  voice  of  God  is,  u  Be  hap- 
py, here  and  for  ever!  Fly  that  which  will 
make  you  miserable  every  where  !  Come  unto 
me<  all  that  labor  and  are  heavy-laden,  and  I  will 
give  you  rest  i 

THE   voice  of  Christ  is,  My  Son,  give  me  thy 
heart !  and  to  him,  who  obeys,  he  will  say.  u  Go 
in  peace  !  go  into  the  grave  !  go  to  Judgment ! 
go  into  Eternity !  go  in  peace  !" 
t 

A  CHRISTIAN  must  stand  in  a  posture  to  receive 
every  message  which  God  shall  send.  He  must 
be  so  prepared,  as  to  be  like  one  who  is  called 
to  set  off  on  a  sudden  journey,  and  has  nothing 
to  do  but  to  set  out  at  a  moment's  notice  :  or 
like  a  merchant  who  has  goods  to  send  abroad, 
and  has  them  all  packed  up  and  in  readiness 
for  the  first  sail. 


How  many  people  go  out  of  their  sphere  under 
good  pretences ! 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  289 

A  PERSON  who  objects  to  tell  a  friend  of  his 
faults,  because  he  has  faults  of  his  own,  acts  as 
a  surgeon  would  who  should  refuse  to  dress 
another  person's  wound  because  he  had  a  dan- 
gerous one  himself. 

WHEN  the  most  insignificant  person  tells  us  we 
are  wrong,  we  ought  to  listen.  Let  us  believe 
it  possible  we  may  be  wrong,  when  any  one 
supposes  we  are  ;  and  enter  into  the  true  little- 
ness which  consists  in  receiving  correction  like 
a  child. 


No  man  rejects  a  minister  of  God  who  faith- 
fully performs  his  office,  till  he  has  rejected 
God. 


THE  plainest  declarations  of  God's  favor,  and 
the  strongest  encouragements,  are  generally 
manifested  in  the  darkest  night  of  trial.  Who 
could  be  more  destitute  than  Jacob,  when  he 
lay  down  in  the  desert  with  a  stone  for  his 
pillow  ?  See  also  Acts  xxvii.  20—24.  2  Cor. 
i.  3,  4,  5. 

THE  pride  of  Israel  testifieth  to  his  face;  and 
they  do  not  return  to  the  Lord  their  God.  This 
is  the  worst  symptom  in  a  sinner — when  he  is 
too  proud  to  go  to  God.  Whatever  be  our 
condition,  if  there  is  contrition  of  spirit  under 
it,  there  is  hope  of  that  man.  There  is  no 
room  for  despair,  to  whatever  lengths  a  man 
may  have  gone  in  sin,  if  he  can  smite  on  his 
breast,  and  say  u  O  Lord  !  though  my  sins  tes- 
25* 


290  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

tify  against  me,  yet  thou  art  a  God  of  compas- 
sion. Do  thou  it,  for  thy  name's  sake." 

A  CHRISTIAN  should  never  attempt  to  try  his  state 
while  under  a  temptation:  he  might  as  well 
attempt  so  examine  the  face  of  the  moon  while 
she  is  under  an  eclipse.  But,  when  he  finds 
corrupt  nature  setting  in  with  a  temptation — 
and  who  has  not  felt  this? — let  him  rememher 
his  Great  Physician.  This  is  the  glory  of  the 
Son  of  God,  that  no  case,  either  of  the  hody  or 
of  the  soul,  was  ever  found  too  hard  for  Him  ! 
Blessed  be  God,  that  we  have  in  Him  a  hiding- 
place — a  covert  from  the  storm — a  refuge  from 
all  our  enemies  ! 

THE  great  care  of  the  man  who  is  content  with 
the  form  of  godliness  without  the  power,  is, 
that  every  thing  should  be  right  without ;  while 
the  true  Christian  is  most  careful  that  every 
thing  should  be  right  within.  It  would  be 
nothing  to  him  to  be  applauded  by  the  whole 
world,  if  he  had  not  the  approbation  of  God  and 
his  own  conscience.  Real  religion  is,  therefore, 
a  living  principle.  Any  one  may  make  a  show, 
and  be  called  a  Christian,  and  unite  himself  to 
a  sect,  and  be  admired, — but,  for  a  man  to  enter 
into  the  sanctuary  ;  to  hold  secret  communion 
with  God ;  to  retire  into  his  closet,  and  trans- 
act all  his  affairs  with  an  unseen  Savior;  to 
walk  with  God  like  Enoch,  and  yet  to  smite  on 
his  breast  with  the  Publican,  having  no  confi- 
dence in  the  flesh,  and  triumphing  only  in  Christ 
Jesus — these  are  the  life  and  acts  of  a  new 
creature  ? 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  291 

O  LORD  !  let  me  have  ANY  THING  but  thy  frown ; 
and  ANY  THING,  with  thy  smile  !* 


WHATEVER,  below  God,  is  the  object  of  our 
love,  will,  at  some  time  or  other,  be  the  mat- 
ter of  our  sorrow. 


TAKE  care,  Christian  !  whatever  you  meet  with 
in  your  way,  that  you  forget  not  your  FATHER!  ' 
When  the  proud  and  wealthy  rush  by  in  tri- 
umph, while  you  are  poor  and  in  sorrow,  hear 
the  voice  of  your  Father  saying,  u  My  son  ! 
had  I  loved  them,  1  should  have  corrected 
THEM  too.  I  give  them  up  to  the  ways  of  their 
own  hearts  :  but  to  my  children,  if  1  give  sor- 
row, it  is  that  1  may  lead  them  to  a  crown  of 
glory  that  fadeth  not  away  !" 

IT  is  by  faith  that  we  contemplate  unseen 
things.  To  the  eye  of  a  clowo,  a  planet  ap- 
pears hut  a  twinkling  star:  but,  if  he  looked 
through  a  telescope,  and  were  able  to  calcu- 
late, he-  would  perceive  that  it  was  a  great 
world,  and  would  be  astonished  at  its  distance 
and  magnitude.  While  the  gay  and  the  busy 
are  moving  on  their  little  mole-hills  full  of  anx- 
iety, faith  thus  reaches  beyond  the  world : 
it  views  death  as  at  hand  :  it  looks  at  heaven, 
and  catches  a  glimpse  of  its  glory  :  it  looks  at 
hell  and  sees  the  torments  of  the  condemned: 
it  looks  at  judgment  and  realizes  that  awful 

*  u  Give  what  thou  canst,  without  Thee  we  are  poor ! 
And  with  Thee  rich,  take  what  thou  wilt  away." 
Cowper,  Task.  V.     J.  P. 


292  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

day :  it  looks  at  eternity,  and  says,  Our  light  af- 
Jliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment,  workethfor 
us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory  :  while  we  look  not  at  the  things  which  are 
seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen  ;  for 
the  things  which  are  seen,  are  temporal,  but  the 
things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal. 

WHERE  there  is  a  real  character,  JSL  man  will 
not  sit  down  in  the  Christian  conflict,  and  say, 
u  If  I  must  carry  about  with  me  this  body  oi" 
death,  I  must  submit.  I  must  bear  these  ene- 
mies as  quietly  as  I  can."  No  !  he  will  say,  as 
St.  Paul  seems  to  say,  *'  I  will  be  on  no  terms 
with  sin  !  I  will  raise  an  outcry  against  the  cor- 
rupt nature  !  I  will  triumph  in  my  Physican  ! 
His  grace  is  sufficient  for  me  :  I  will  wait  for 
a  cure,  and  wait  for  it  in  the  appointed  way. 
I  see  light  and  hope,  and  liberty;  and  I  thank 
God,  that,  If  I  am  a  sinner,  yet  I  am  a  saved 
sinner  I"  • 


GOD  hath  set  the  day  of  prosperity  and  the  day  of 
adversity,  the  one  over  against  the  other — as  the 
clouds  are  gathered,  for  rain,  by  the  shining 
of  the  sun:  and,  if  for  a  moment  they  are 
blown  aside,  we  must  expect  their  return. — 
Where,  in  our  sky,  should  we  look  for  clouds? 
— where  it  is  brightest :  where  our  expecta- 
tions are  highest.  Our  sharpest  sorrows  arise 
out  of  our  sweetest  comforts.  Rachel  said, 
Give  me  children,  or  else.  I  die  :  and,  in  obtain- 
ing what  she  esteemed  her  highest  comfort — 
what  she  would  have  at  any  rate — was  hidden 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  293 

the  cause  of  her  sharpest  grief.  God  gave 
her  children  ;  and,  in  hearing  her  second  child, 
it  came  to  pass,  as  her  soul  was  in  departing  (for 
she  died.)  that  she  Called  his  name  Ben-oni — the 
son  of  my  sorrow. 


WHO  is  the  most  miserable  man  on  earth?— 
and  whither  shall  we  go  to  seek  him? — Noi  to 
the  tavern  !  not  to  the  theatre  !  not  even  to  a 
brothel! — but  to  the  church!  That  man  who 
has  sat  Sabbath  after  Sabbath  under  the  awak- 
ening and  affecting  calls  of  the  gospel,  and  has 
hardened  his  heart  against  these  calls — HE  is 
the  man  whose  condition  is  the  most  desperate 
of  all  others.  Woe  unto  thee,  Ckoruzin  !  woe  tw- 
to  thee,  Bethsaida  ! — and  thou,  Capernaum,  which 
art  exalted  to  heaven,  shall  be  thrust  down  to  hell. 


GIVE  every  kind  of  knowledge  its  due  atten- 
tion and  respect :  but  what  science  is  to  be 
compared  to  the  knowledge  of  Christ  crucifi- 
ed? Had  a  traveller  lost  his  way  in  some  des- 
ert, where  he  had  wandered  till  he  was  faint- 
ing with  hunger  and  thirst,  for  what  would  he 
first  ask? — for  music? — for  paintings? — No! 
— he  would  ask  for  bread — for  water!  Any 
thing  else  offered  him  would  be  a  mocking  of 
his  misery. 


WHAT  an  oppressive  burden  is  taken  off  a 
Christian's  shoulders,  by  his  privilege  of  leav- 
ing all  consequences,  while  in  the  path  of  duty 
to  God  !  He  has  done  with — •'  how  shall  /bear 
this  trouble  !" — u  How  shall  /  remove  this  dif- 


294  REMAINS  OP  MR.  CECIL. 

ficulty  ?" — u  How  shall  /  get  through  this  deep 
water?" — but  leaves  himself  in  the  hands  of 
God. 

WE  may  form  some  idea  of  the  joys  of  heaven, 
by  the  innocent  pleasures  which  God  grants  us 
on  earth.  Here  is  a  fine  situation,  with  won- 
derful prospects — every  thing  to  delight  the 
senses  :  yet  all  this  we  find  in  a  world  which 
is  under  a  curse  !  what  then  may  we  not  ex- 
.pect  in  a  heavenly  world,  where  God  exerci- 
ses all  his  power  for  our  blessedness  ? 


HOWEVER  ill  men  may  treat  us,  we  should  nev- 
er give  them  a  handle  to  say  that  we  misbe- 
haved ourselves.  Were  I  to  meet  my  most 
bitter  adversary,  and  know  that  he  was  come 
with  the  most  malicious  intentions,  1  should  en- 
deavour to  be  so  on  my  guard,  that  he  could 
not  lay  his  finger,  with  truth,  on  any  part  of 
my  conduct. 

THE  MOTIVE  determines  the  quality  of  ac- 
tions. One  man  may  do  a  penurious  act,  be- 
cause he  knows  he  shall  be  put  to  difficulties 
if  he  does  not :  another  may  do  the  same  from 
mere  avarice.  The  king  of  Edom  offered  up 
his  son  on  the  wall,  and  his  abominable  cruel- 
ty excited  just  indignation  :  but  Abraham,  hav- 
ing in  intention  offered  up  his  son,  is  held  forth 
to  all  generations  for  this  act  as  the  father  of 
the  faithful. 


IT  is  always  a  sign  of  poverty  of  mind,  where 


REMAINS  OF  MR.   CECIL.  295 

men  are  ever  aiming  to  appear  great :  for 
they,  who  are  really  great,  never  see;.i  to 
know  it. 

WHAT  the  world  calls  the  best  company  is  such, 
as  a  pious  mechanic  would  not  condescend  to 
keep  :  he  would  rather  say,  Turn  away  mine 
eyes  from  beholding  vanity ! 

ONE  way  of  reading  the  Bible  with  advantage 
is,  to  pay  it  great  homage  :  so  that,  when  we 
come  to  any  part  which  we  cannot  connect 
with  other  passages,  we  must  conclude  that 
this  arises  from  our  ignorance,  but  that  the 
seeming  contrarieties  are  in  themselves  quite 
reconcilable. 

YOUNG  Christians,  on  setting  out  in  life,  often 
mistake  greatly  in  not  sufficiently  attributing 
events  to  the  immediate  providence  of  God. 
They  are  not  reluctant,  at  the  end,  to  acknowl- 
edge that  their  way  has  been  directed ;  but 
they  do  not  enough  mark  it  as  they  go  on. 
There  is  a  habit  of  saying  "  Such  a  thing  may 
TURN  UP,"  as  if  it  depended  on  chance;  where- 
as nothing  will  turn  up,  but  what  was  ordered 
long  before.  One  cause  of  this  evil  is,  that 
the  divinity  of  our  day  deals  too  much  in  com- 
mon-place :  certain  fundamental  truths  are  set 
forth  :  and  if  a  man  professes  these  truths,  too 
little  account  is  made  of  the  faith,  dependence, 
and  other  graces  of  a  Christian.  When  a  man 
becomes  a  Christian  he  is  written  upon,  as  it 
were,  "  TO  BE  PROVIDED  FOR  !" — and  he  ought, 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


therefore,  to  notice,  as  he  goes  on,  how  Provi- 
dence does  provide  for  him. 


mistake  in  nothing-  so  much,  as.  when  they 
res^t  their  dispensation  :  for,  while  God  shut- 
teth  up  a  man,  there  can  be  no  opening.  Re- 
sistance does  hut  make  the  dispensation  harder 
to  he  home.  Joh  says.  He  teareth  himself  in. 
his  anger  :  but  -shall  the  Rock  be  removed  because 
of  the  e  !  The  man  is,  as  it  were  in  a  labyrinth  : 
and  the  hand,  which  brought  him  in,  must  be 
the  hand  to  conduct  him  out. 


WE  require  the  same  hand  to  protect  us  in  ap- 
parent safety,  as  in  the  most  imminent  and  pal- 
pable danger.  One  of  the  most  wicked  men 
in  my  neighborhood  was  riding  near  a  preci- 
pice, and  fell  over:  his  horse  was  killed,  but 
he  escaped  without  injury  :  instead  of  thanking 
God  for  his  deliverance,  he  refused  to  acknowl- 
edge the  hand  of  God  therein  :  but  attributed 
his  escape  to  chance.  The  same  man  was  af- 
terward riding  on  a  very  smooth  road:  his 
horse  suddenly  tripped  and  fell,  and  threw  his 
rider  over  his  head,  and  killed  him  on  the  spot, 
while  the  horse  escaped  unhurt. 


IF  a  man  is  dead  in  sin,  our  attempting  to  cor- 
rect his  false  notions  is  like  laying  a  dead  man 
straight,  who  before  was  lying  crooked.  The 
man  is  dead,  and  will  remain  so;  though,  be- 
fore, he  was  lying  crooked,  and  is  now  lying 
straight.  It  matters  little  what  right  notions 
we  may  have,  while  we  are  dead  in  sin  j  for 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  297 

we  shall  never  act  up  to  them,  till  God  awak- 
ens our  hearts. 


To  have  too  much  forethought,  is  the  part  of 
a  WRETCH  ;  to  have  too  little,  is  the  part  of  a 
FOOL. 

SELF-WILL  is  so  ardent  and  active,  that  it  will 
break  a  world  to  pieces,  to  make  a  stool  to  sit 
on. 

WE  are  too  little  acquainted  with  the  sacred 
character  of  God.  Jl  certain  man  sold  a  pos- 
session, and  brought  a  certain  part  of  the  price. 
We  should  have  thought  this  a  generous  act : 
but  God  saw  that  there  wanted  a  right  estima- 
tion of  his  character.  Many  sins  are  suffered 
to  pass,  to  be  punished  hereafter:  but  God 
sometimes  breaks  out,  and  strikes  an  offender 
dead  in  vindication  of  his  own  glory. 

REMEMBER  always  to  mix  good  sense  with  good 
things,  or  they  will  become  disgusting. 

THINGS  are  not  to  be  done  by  the  effort  of  the 
moment,  but  by  the  preparation  of  past  mo- 
ments. 


__  there  is  any  person  to  whom  you  feel   dis- 
like, that  is  the  person  of  whom  you  ought 
ver  to  speak. 


EIRITABILITY  urges  us  to  take  a  step  as  much 
too  soon,  as  sloth  does  too  late. 

26 


293  REMAINS  OF  MR.   CECIL. 

WHEN  we  read  the  Bible  we  must  always  re- 
member, thai,  like  the  holy  waters  seen  by 
Ezekiel,*  it  is  in  some  places,  up  to  the  ancles ; 
in  others,  up  to  the  knees  ;  in  others,  up  Jo  the 
loins  ;  and,  in  some  a  river  too  deep  to  be  fath- 
omed, and  that  cannot  be  passed  over.  There 
is  light  enough  to  guide  the  humble  and  teach- 
able to  heaven,  and  obscurity  enough  to  con- 
found the  unbeliever. 


TRUE  religion,  as  revealed  in  the  Scriptures, 
may  be  compared  to  a  plum  on  the  tree,  cov- 
ered with  its  bloom.  Men  gather  the  plum, 
and  handle  it,  and  turn  and  twist  it  about,  till 
it  is  deprived  of  all  its  native  bloom  and  beau- 
ty :  the  fairest  hand  would  as  much  rob  the 
plum  of  its  bloom,  as  any  other.  Now  all  that 
little  party-spirit,  which  so  much  prevails  a- 
mong  men,  and  which  leads  them  to  say  /  am 
of  Paul  and  I  of  Jlpollos — is  but  handling  the 
plum  till  it  loses  its  bloom. 

THERE  are  but  two  classes  of  the  wise  : — the 
men  who  serve  God,  because  thev  have  found 
him  :  and  the  men  who  seek  him,  because  they 
have  found  him  not.  All  others  may  say,  Is 
there  not  a  lie  in  my  right  hand  ? 

PHILOSOPHY  is  a  proud,  sullen  detecter  of  the 
poverty  and  misery  of  man.  It  may  turn  him 
from  the  world  with  a  proud,  sturdy  contempt : 
but  it  cannot  come  forward,  and  say  u  Here 

*  Ezek,  ch.  xlvii. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  299 

are  rest — grace — peace — strength — consola- 
tion !" 

WE  hear  much  of  a  DECENT  pride — a  BECOMING 
pride — a  NOBLE  pride — a  LAUDABLE  pride  !  Can 
that  be  DECENT,  of  which  we  ought  to  be  a- 
shamed  ? — Can  that  he  BECOMING,  of  which  God 
has  set  forth  the  deformity^ — Can  that  be  NO- 
BLE, which  God  resists,  and  is  determined  to 
debase  ? — Can  that  be  LAUDABLE,  which  God 
calls  abominable  ? 

MANY  things  are  spoken  of.  in  the  Scriptures, 
as  good  :  but  there  is  not  one  thing  emphat- 
ically called  GOOD,  which  does  not  relate  to 
Christ  or  his  coming. 


SAY  the  strongest  things  you  can,  with  candor 
and  kindness,  to  a  man's  face  ;  and  make  the 
best  excuse  you  can  for  him,  with  truth  and 
justice,  behind  his  back. 

MANY  people  labor  to  make  the  narrow  way 
wider.  They  may  dig  a  path  into  the  broad 
way ;  but  the  way  to  life  must  remain  a  nar- 
row way  to  the  end. 

ALL  extremes  are  error.  The  reverse  of  er- 
ror is  not  truth,  but  error.  Truth  lies  between 
these  extremes. 

I  HAVE  no  doubt,  but  that  there  are  persons  of 
every  description,  under  every  possible  cir- 
cumstance, in  every  lawful  calling  among 


300  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL, 

Christians,  who  will  go  to  heaven — that  all  the 
world  may  see,  that  neither  their  circumstan- 
ces nor  calling  prevented  their  being  among 
the  number  of  the  blessed. 


GOD  has  given  us  four  books : — the  Book  of 
Grace  ;  the  Book  of  Nature  ;  the  Book  of  the 
World ;  and  the  Book  of  Providence.  Every 
occurrence  is  a  leaf  in  one  of  these  books:  it 
does  not  become  us  to  be  negligent  in  the  use 
of  any  of  them. 

ELOQUENCE  is  vehement  simplicity. 

GOD  is  omniscient  as  well  as  omnipotent :  and 
omniscience  may  see  reason  to  withhold  what 
omnipotence  could  bestow. 

ATTEND  to  the  presence  of  God  :  this  will  dig- 
nify a  small  congregation,  and  annihilate  a 
large  one. 

HAVING  some  business  to  transact  with  a  gen- 
tleman in  the  city,  I  called  one  day  at  his  coun- 
ting house  :  he  begged  1  would  call  again,  as 
1  had  so  much  more  time  to  spare  than  he  had, 
who  was  a  man  of  business.  "  An  hour  is 
nothing  to  you,"  said  he — "An  hour  nothing 
to  a  clergyman  !"  said  I :  "you  seem  little  to 
understand  the  nature  of  our  profession.  One 
hour  of  a  Clergyman's  time  rightly  employed, 
Sir,  is  worth  more  to  him  than  all  the  gains  of 
your  merchandize." 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  301 

IF  a  man  has  a  quarrelsome  temper,  let  him 
alone.  The  world  will  soon  find  him  employ- 
ment. He  will  soon  meet  with  some  one 
stronger  than  himself,  who  will  repay  him  bet- 
ter than  you  can.  A  man  may  fight  duels  all 
his  life,  if  he  is  disposed  to  quarrel. 

ONE  day  I  got  off  my  horse  to  kill  a  rat,  which 
1  found  on  the  road  only  half  killed.  I  am 
shocked  at  the  thoughtless  cruelty  of  many 
people,  yet  I  did  a  thing  soon  after,  that  has 
given  me  considerable  uneasiness, '  and  for 
which  I  reproach  myself  bitterly.  As  I  was 
riding  homeward,  I  saw  a  wagon  standing  at 
a  door,  with  three  horses :  the  two  foremost 
were  eating  their  corn  from  bags  at  their  no- 
ses; but  I  observed  the  third  had  dropt  his  on 
the  ground,  and  could  not  stoop  to  get  any 
food.  However  I  rode  on,  in  absence,  without 
assisting  him.  But  when  I  had  got  nearly 
home,  I  remembered  what  I  had  observed  in 
my  absence  of  mind,  and  felt  extremely  hurt 
at  my  neglect ;  and  would  have  ridden  back 
had  I  not  thought  the  wagoner  might  have 
corne  out  of  the  house  and  relieved  the  horse. 
A  man  could  not  have  had  a  better  demand  for 
getting  off  his  horse,  than  for  such  an  act  of 
humanity.  It  is  by  absence  of  mind,  that  we 
omit  many  duties. 

A  wrcKED  man  is  a  candidate  for  nothing  but 
hell ! — However  he  may  live,  if  his  conscience 
were  awake  he  would  turn  pale  at  this  question 
What  shall  I  do  in  the  end  thereof? 
26* 


302  REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 

THERE  is  a  great  defect  in  Gray's  Elegy.  You 
cannot  read  it  without  feeling  a  melancholjr : 
there  is  no  sunshine — no  hope  after  death  :  it 
shews  the  dark  side  only  of  mortality.  But 
a  man  refined  as  he  was,  and  speculating  on 
the  bankruptcy  of  human  nature,  if  he  brought 
not  evangelical  views  into  the  estimate,  COULD 
describe  human  nature  only  as  HOPELESS  and 
FORLORN  :  whereas  what  HE  felt  a  subject  of 
melancholy,  is  with  me  included  in  the  calcu- 
lation. I  know  it  MUST  be  so,  and,  according 
to  my  views,  should  he  disappointed  if  it  were 
not  so — My  kingdom,  said  our  Lord,  is  not  of 
this  world. 


REVELATION  never  staggers  me.  There  may 
be  a  tertium  quid,  though  we  are  not  yet  in 
possession  of  it,  which  would  put  an  end  to  all 
our  present  doubts  and  questions.  I  was  one 
day  riding  with  a  friend  :  we  were  discussing 
a  subject,  and  I  expressed  myself  surprised 
that  such  a  measure  was  not  adopted.  ulfl 
were  to  tell  you  one  thing,"  said  he,  u  it  would 
make  all  clear."  I  gave  him  credit  that  there 
did  exist  something,  which  would  entirely  dis- 
pel my  objections.  Now  if  this  be  the  case, 
in  many  instances,  between  man  and  man,  is 
it  an  unreasonable  conclusion,  that  all  the  un- 
accountable points,  which  we  may  observe  in 
the  providence  and  government  of  God,  should 
be  all  perfection  in  the  Divine  mind  ?  Take  the 
growth  of  a  seed — I  cannot  possibly  say  what 
first  produces  the  progress  of  growth  in  the 
grain.  Take  voluntary  motion — 1  cannot  pos- 


REMAINS  OE  MR.   CECIL.  303 

sibly  say  where  action  begins  and  thought 
ends-.  The  proportion  between  a  fly's  mind 
and  a  man's  is  no  adequate  illustration  of  the 
state  of  man  with  respect  to  God;  because  there 
is  some  proportion  between  the  minds  or  facul- 
ties of  two  finite  creatures,  but  there  can  be 
none  between  finite  man  and  the  Infinite  God. 

ONE  little  preacher  will  endeavor  to  prove, 
with  a  great  deal  of  warmth,  the  truth  of  Cal- 
vinistic  principles  :— -and  another  little  preach- 
er will  clearly  demonstrate  the  truth  of  the 
Arminian  scheme.  Good  sense  will  go  be- 
tween them,  and  say,  "  There  are  certain 
things  written  on  these  subjects — Thus  saitk 
the  Lord:"  good  sense  will  hesitate  to  push 
what  is  said  to  all  its  apparent  conclusions,  for 
— It  is  written  again.  Here  ends  all  dogma- 
tism with  a  wise  man. 

A  MOUSE  that  had  lived  all  his  life  in  a  chest, 
says  the  fable,  chanced  one  day  to  creep  up 
to  the  edge,  and,  peeping  out,  exclaimed  with 
wonder — "  I  did  not  think  the  world  was  so 
large." 

The  first  step  to  knowledge,  is  to  know  that 
we  are  ignorant.  It  is  a  great  point  to  know 
our  place  :  for  want  of  this,  a  man  in  private 
life,  instead  of  attending  to  the  affairs  in  his 
u  chest,"  is  ever  peeping  out,  and  then  he  be- 
comes a  PHILOSOPHER  !  he  must  then  know  ev- 
ery thing,  and  presumptuously  pry  into  the 
deep  and  secret  councils  of  God — not  consider- 
ing that  man  is  finite,  and  has  no  faculties  to 


304  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

comprehend  and  judge  of  the  great  scheme  of 
things.  We  can  form  no  other  idea  of  the  dis- 
pensations of  God,  nor  can  have  any  knowl- 
edge of  spiritual  things,  except  what  God  has 
taught  us  in  his  word ;  and,  where  he  stops, 
we  must  stop.  He  has  not  told  us  why  he  per- 
mitted the  angels  to  fall — why  he  created  Ad- 
am— why  he  suffered  sin  to  enter  into  the 
world — why  Christ  came  in  the  latter  ages — 
when  he  will  come  to  judgment — what  will  be 
the  doom  of  the  Heathen  nations — nor  why 
our  state  throughout  eternity  was  made  to  de- 
pend on  such  a  moment  as  man^s  life  :  all 
these  are  secrets  of  his  council.  Where  wast 
thou,  when  I  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth  ? 
God  urges  it  on  us  again  and  again,  that  sin  HAS 
entered — and  that  we  must  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come.  Christ,  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  nev- 
er gratified  curiosity :  he  answered  every  in- 
quiry according  to  the  SPIRIT  of  the  inquirer, 
not  according  to  the  letter  of  the  inquiry :  if 
any  man  came  in  humility  for  instruction,  he 
always  instructed  ;  but,  when  any  came  to 
gratify  a  vain  curiosity,  he  answered,  as  when 
one  said  Lore?,  are  there  few  that  be  saved  ? — 

STRIVE  TO  ENTER  IN  AT  THE  STRAIT  GATE  ! Or,   aS 

when  another  inquired,  Lord,  and  what  shall 
this  man  do  ? —  What  is  that  to  thee  ?  FOLLOW 

THOU  ME. 

WE  are  too  ready  to  say,  in  trouble,  Ml  these 
things  are  against  me!  but  a  Christian  should 
say,  u  This  or  that  may  seem  against  me  !  but 
there  is  mercy  for  me :  there  is  a  Savior  : 


REMAINS  OF  MR.    CECIL.  305 

there  is  God's  word  :  and  there  are  his  ordi- 
nances." He  should  be  more  careful  to  enu- 
merate what  is  FOR  him,  than  what  is  AGAINST 
him.  He  should  look  over  the  list  of  his  spir- 
itual and  temporal  mercies,  as  well  as  that  of 
his  sorrows ;  and  remember,  that  what  things 
are  AGAINST  him  are  so  on  account  of  his  sin. 
Our  pilgrimage  is  but  short : — let  us  make  use 
of  our  helps  and  means.  God  has  given  us  a 
guide,  and  a  support  to  lean  on  :  when  the 
clouds  gather,  we  have  only  to  look  to  Jesus. 
We  are  not  to  expect  the  joys  of  heaven  while 
on  earth  : — let  us  be  content  that  there  is  a 
highway  for  us  to  walk  in,  and  a  leader  to  con- 
duct us  in  that  way. 

IT  is  a  Christian's  business,  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, consistently  with  his  duty,  to  lessen  his 
cares  and  occupations  in  the  world.  It  is  very 
common  to  hear  Christians  complain  what  a 
hindrance  business  is,  while  they  are,  perhaps, 
at  the  very  time,  too  anxious  to  increase  it ! 
There  is  some  fallacy,  too,  in  the  complaint  : 
for,  where  there  is  a  principle  of  grace,  it  will 
prevail  even  in  a  multitude  of  engagements. 
There  is  much  difference  between  SEEKING  bu- 
sy situations,  and  BEING  FOUND  in  them. 


WHAT  we  call  "  taking  steps  in  life,"  are  most 
serious  occurrences; — especially  if  there  be, 
in  the  motive,  any  mixture  of  ambition.  Where- 
fore  gaddest  thou  about  to  change  thy  way  ? 

THE  dispensation  of  grace  to  some,  is  little 


306  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

more  than  a  continual  combat  with  corrup- 
tions :  so  that,  instead  of  advancing,  a  man 
seems  to  be  but  just  able  to  preserve  himself 
from  sinking.  A  boat,  with  the  tide  full 
against  it,  does  well  if  it  can  keep  from  driving 
back,  and  must  have  strong  force  indeed  to  get 
forward.  We  must  estimate  grace  by  the  op- 
position which  it  meets  with. 

How  blessed  is  the  Christian,  in  the  midst  of 
his  greatest  troubles  !  It  is  true  we  cannot 
say  he  is  perfect  in  holiness — that  he  has  nev- 
er any  doubts — that  his  peace  of  mind  is  never 
interrupted — that  he  never  mistakes  Provi- 
dence :  but,  after  all,  his  is  a  blessed  condi- 
tion ;  for  he  is  supported  under  his  trials,  and 
instructed  by  the  discipline  :  and,  as  to  his 
fears,  the  evil  under  the  apprehension  of  which 
he  is  ready  to  sink,  frequently  does  not  come 
— or  it  does  not  continue — or  it  is  turned  into 
a  blessing. 

ONE  of  the  greatest  impositions  of  Satan  on 
the  mind,  is  that  of  quieting  a  man  in  the  pur- 
suit or  possession  of  what  is  lawful.  So  that 
it  is  not  murder,  or  adulter}',  or  theft  which  he 
is  committing,  all  is  well !  Because  a  man's 
bed  is  his  own,  he  may  idle  away  in  it  his  in- 
estimable time  !  Because  his  business  is  law- 
ful, a  man  may  intoxicate  his  mind  with  the 
pursuit  of  it! 


THE  very  heart  and  root  of  sin,  is  an  indepen- 
dent spirit.     We  erect  the  idol  SELF  ;  and  not 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  307 

only  wish  others  to  worship,  but  worship  it 
ourselves. 

WE  must  take  care  when  we  draw  parallel  ca- 
ses, not  to  take  such  as  are  not  or  cannot  be 
made  parallel.  For  instance — we  may  ask, 
before  we  act,  u  What  would  Jesus  Christ  do 
in  this  case  ?  or  what  would  St.  Paul  ?"  but 
we  cannot  be  guided  by  this  rule  in  every 
thing-,  because  Christ's  mission  was  peculiar : 
it  was  an  unparalleled  event :  it  was  for  three 
years  only :  and,  like  a  great  fire,  he  was  al- 
ways burning— always  intent  on  one  point.  St. 
Paul  also  was  in  peculiar  circumstances:  he 
was  sent  on  an  especial  errand.  In  every 
thing  which  is  in  any  degree  sinful,  we  should 
turn  to  these  examples  ;  but,  in  the  conduct 
peculiar  to  our  station,  our  application  of  these 
examples  must  be  governed  by  circumstan- 
ces. 

MANY  inexperienced  Christians  are  apt  to  look 
for  wrong  kinds  of  evidences,  and  so  distress 
themselves  about  their  state.  The  questions 
which  we  should  put  to  ourselves,  in  seeking 
the  best  evidences,  are — :"  Do  I  hate  sin  ! — Is 
it  my  grand  fear  ? — Is  it  my  grief,  that,  while 
1  have  a  good  hope  of  pardon,  I  yet  should 
make  such  ill  returns  ?  Have  I  brokenness  of 
spirit  ?" — Godliness  is  analogous  to  the  princi- 
ple of  gravitation,  in  that  it  reduces  every 
thing  to  its  proper  centre. 

THE  difference  between  what  is  called  FATE, 


308  REMAINS    OF    MR.    CECIL. 

and  PREDESTINATION,  is  something  like  that  of  a 
house  without  a  governor,  and  a  house,  with  a 
governor.  The  Fatalist  says,  a  Every  thing 
must,  of  necessity  be  as  it  is — as  a  stone  must 
fall  to  the  ground,  fire  must  ascend,  &c.  The 
Predestinarian  says,  that  every  thing  is  deter- 
mined by  a  wise  Governor,  who  inspects,  or- 
ders, and  superintends  the  whole  machine  ;  so 
that  a  sparrow  does  not  fall  to  the  ground,  or 
a  hair  of  the  head  perish,  without  permis- 
sion. 


WE  are  so  accustomed  to  see  sin  within  and 
without  us,  that  we  seldom  deeply  feel  it,  or 
are  so  shocked  at  it,  as  we  should  be  were  it 
less  frequent.  If  an  inhabitant  of  the  court 
were  to  walk  through  some  of  the  filthy  streets 
and  alleys  of  the  Metropolis,  how  would  he  be 
disgusted  and  terrified  !  while  the  poor  wretch- 
es, who  live  in  them,  think  nothing  of  the  mat- 
ter. Thus  a  clearer  view  of  sin  and  of  the 
holiness  of  God,  made  the  prophet  cry  out, 
Woe  is  me  !  for  I  am  undone  ;  because  I  am  a 
man  of  unclean  lips^  and  I  dwell  in  the  midst  of 
a  people  of  unclean  lips  :  for  mine  eyes  have  seen 
the  King,  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 


IT  is  much  easier  to  SETTLE  a  point,  than  to  ACT 
on  it. 


I  ONCE  said  to  myself,  in  the  foolishness  of  my 
heart.  "  What  sort  of  Sermon  must  that  have 
been  which  was  preached  by  St.  Peter,  when 
three  thousand  souls  were  converted  AT  ONCE?" 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  309 

- — what  sort  of  Sermon ! — such  as  other  sermons. 
There  is  nothing  to  be  found  in  it  extraordin- 
ary. The  effect  was  not  produced  by  St.  Pe- 
ter's eloquence  :  but  by  the  mighty  power  of 
God,  present  with  his  word.  It  is  in  vain  to 
attend  one  Minister  after  another,  and  to  hear 
Sermon  after  Sermon,  unless  we  pray  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  accompany  his  word.  Neither  is 
he  that  pianteth  any  thing,  neither  he  that  wuter- 
eth  ;  but  God  that  giveth  the  increase. 

THAT  humility  which  courts  notice,  is  not  FIRST- 
RATE.  It  maybe  sincere,  but  it  is  sullied.  Do 
not  sound  a  trumpet,  nor  say  ;t  Come  and  see 
how  humble  I  am !" 

WE  should  be  careful  never  to  discourage  any 
one  who  is  but  searching  after  God.  If  a  man 
begins  in  earnest  to  feel  after  him  if  haply  he 
may  find  him,  let  us  be  aware  how  we  stop  him, 
by  rashly  telling  him  he  is  not  seeking  in  the 
right  way.  This  would  be  like  setting  fire  to 
the  first  round  of  the  ladder,  by  which  one  was 
attempting  to  escape.  We  must  wait  for  a  fit 
season  to  communicate  light.  Had  any  one 
told  me,  when  I  first  began  to  think  religious- 
ly, that  I  was  not  seeking  God  in  the  right 
way,  I  might  have  been  discouraged  from  seek- 
ing him  at  all.  I  was  much  indebted  to  my 
mother,  for  her  truly  wise  and  judicious  con- 
duct toward  me  when  I  first  turned  from  my 
vanity  and  sin. 

WE  should  always  record  our  thoughts  in  afflic- 
27 


310  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

tion — set  up  way-marks — set  up  our  Bethels — 
erect  our  Ehenezers ;  that  we  may  recur  to  them 
in  health  ;  for  then  we  are  in  other  circumstan- 
ces,  and  can  never  recover  our  sick-bed  views. 

A  CONTEMPLATIVE  life  has  more  the  APPEARANCE 
of  a  life  of  piety  than  anv  other:  but  it  is  the 
divine  plan  to  bring  faith  into  ACTIVITY  and  EX- 
ERCISE. We  choose  that  sort  of  walk,  which 
we  like  best:  if  we  love  quiet,  we  are  for  se- 
dentary piety  ;  but  the  design  of  God  is  to  root 
us  out  of  every  thing,  and  bring  us  into  more 
useful  stations. 

A  WRETCHED  prisoner,  chained  to  the  floor  for  a 
length  of  time,  would  deem  it  a  high  privilege 
to  be  allowed  to  walk  across  the  room.  Anoth- 
er, confined  to  lie  on  his  back  till  it  had  be- 
come sore,  would  think  it  a  great  favor  if  he 
might  be  permitted  to  turn  on  his  side  for  a 
few  minutes.  In  a  course  of  habitual  pain,  I 
am  thankful  for  five  minutes  freedom  from  suf- 
fering :  how  forgetful  have  I  been  of  fifty 
years  of  tolerable  ease  !  How  unmindful  are 
we  of  what  we  call  common  mercies ! 

IN  order  to  read  the  Bible  with  profit,  we  must 
begin  by  denying  ourselves  every  step  of  the 
way  ;  for,  every  step  of  the  way^  it  will  be 
found  to  oppose  our  corrupt  nature. 

CHRISTIANS  resemble  travellers  in  a  stage-coach. 
We  are  full  of  our  plans  and  schemes,  but  the 
coach  is  moving  rapidly  forward :  it  passes  one 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  311 

mile-stone,  and  then  another  ;  and  no  regard  is 
paid  to  the  plots  and  plans  of  the  passengers. 

A  CHRISTIAN  has  advanced  but  a  little  way  in 
religion  when  he  has  overcome  the  love  of  the 
world  ;  for  he  has  still  more  powerful  and  im- 
portunate enemies  :  self — evil  tempers — pride 
— undue  affections — a  stubborn  will — it  is  by 
the  subduing  of  these  adversaries,  that  we 
must  chiefly  judge  of  our  growth  in  grace. 


A  FRIEND  called  on  me  when  I  was  ill,  to  set- 
tle some  business.  My  head  was  too  much 
confused  by  my  indisposition  to  .  understand 
fully  what  he  said;  but  I  had  such  unlimited 
confidence  in  him,  that  I  did  whatever  he  bid 
me,  in  the  fullest  assurance  that  it  was  right. 
How  simply  I  can  trust  in  man,  and  how  little 
in  God  !  How  unreasonable  is  a  pure  act  of 
faith  in  one  like  ourselves,  if  we  cannot  repose 
the  same  faith  in  God. 


Some  negative  rules,  given  to  a  Young  Minister 
going  into  a  situation  of  peculiar  difficulty. 

As  I  know  you  have  received  much  good  ad- 
vice, I  would  suggest  to  you  a  few  hints  of  a 
negative  kind  ;  with  a  view  of  admonishing 
you  to  be  careful,  while  you  are  doing  your 
work,  not  by  any  mistakes  of  your  own  to  hin- 
der your  success — 

1.  By  forgetting  that  your  success  with  others  is 
very  much  connected  with  your  personal  char- 
acter. 


312  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

Herod  heard  John  gladly,  and  he  did  many 
things ;  because  he  knew  the  preacher  to  be  a 
just  and  holy  man.  Words  uttered  from  the 
heart  find  their  way  to  the  heart,  by  a  holy 
sympathy.  Character  is  power  : — 
u  A  good  man  seen,  though  silent,  counsel  gives.1' 
If  you  would  make  deep  impressions  on  oth- 
ers, you  must  use  all  means  to  have  them  first 
formed  on  your  own  mind.  Avoid,  at  the  same 
time,  all  appearances  of  evil — as  a  covetous  or 
worldly,  a  vain  or  assuming,  careless  or  inde- 
vout  deportment.  Never  suffer  jesting  with 
sacred  persons  or  things.  Satan  will  employ 
such  antidotes  as  these,  to  counteract  the  op- 
eration of  that  which  is  effective  and  gracious 
in  a  minister's  character. 

II.  By  placing  your  dependance  on  any  means^ 
qualities,  or  circumstances^   however  excellent 
in  themselves. 

The  direct  way  to  render  a  thing  weak,  is 
to  lean  on  it  as  strong.  God  is  a  jealous  God  ; 
and  will  utterly  abolish  idols  as  means  of  success. 
He  designs  to  demonstrate  that  men  and  crea- 
tures are  what  he  makes  them,  and  that  only. 
This  also  should  be  your  encouragement: — 
looking,  in  the  diligent  and  humble  use  of 
means,  to  that  Spirit  of  life  and  power  without 
whose  influence  all  your  endeavors  will  be  to 
no  purpose,  you  have  reason  to  expect  help 
suited  and  adequate  to  all  your  difficulties. 

III.  By  unnecessarily  appearing  in  dangerous  or 
improper  situations. 

It  is  one  thing  to  be  humble  and  condescend- 
ing; it  is  another  to  render  yourself  common> 


'REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  313 

cheap,  and  contemptible.  The  men  of  the 
world  know  when  a  minister  is  out  of  his  place 
— when  they  can  oppress  him  by  numbers  or 
circumstances — when  they  can  make  him  laugh, 
while  his  office  frowns.  Well  will  it  be  for 
him,  if  he  is  only  rendered  ABSURD  in  his  future 
public  admonitions,  by  his  former  compliances  ; 
well  if,  being  found  like  St.  Peter  on  danger- 
ous ground,  he  is  not  seduced,  virtually  at  least, 
to  deny  his  Master. 

IV.  By  suspicious  appearances  in  his  family. 

As  the  head  of  your  household  you  are  re- 
sponsible for  its  appearances.  Its  pride,  sloth, 
and  disorder  will  be  yours.  You  are  accoun- 
table for  you  wife's  conduct,  dress,and  manners, 
as  well  as  those  of  your  children,  whose  edu- 
cation must  be  peculiarly  exemplary.  Your 
family  is  to  be  a  picture  of  what  you  wish  oth- 
er families  to  be  :  and,  without  the  most  deter- 
mined resolution,  in  reliance  on  God,  to  finish 
this  picture  COST  WHAT  IT  WILL,  your  recom- 
mending family  religion  to  others  will  but  cre- 
ate a  smile.  Your  unfriendly  hearers  will  re- 
collect enough  of  Scripture  to  tell  you  that 
you  ought,  like  the  primitive  Bishop,  to  be 
one,  that  ruletk  well  his  own  house,  having  his 
children  in  subjection  with  all  gravity :  for  if  a 
man  know  not  how  to  rule  his  own  house,  how 
shall  he  take  care  of  the  church  of  God  ? 
V.  By  meddling  beyond  your  sphere  in  temporals. 

Your  aim  and  conversation,  like  your  sacred 

call,  are  to  be  altogether  heavenly.     As  a  man 

of  God,  you  have  no  concern  with  politics  and 

parties  and  schemes  of  interest,  but  you  are  to 

27* 


314  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

live  above  them.  There  is  a  sublime  spirit  in 
a.  devoted  minister,  which,  as  one  says  of  Chris- 
tianity itself,  pays  no  more  regard  to  these 
things,  than  to  the  battles  of  rooks,  the  indus- 
try of  ants,  or  the  policy  of  bees. 

VI.  By  venturing  off  general  and  acknowledged 
ground  in  spirituals. 

By  giving  strong  meat,  instead  of  milk,  to 
those  who  are  yet  but  bab^s — by  giving  heed  to 
fables,  which  minister  questions  rather  than  godly 
edifying ;  amusing  the  mind,  but  not  affecting 
the  heart:  often  disturbing  and  bewildering, 
seldom  convincing;  frequently  raising  a  smile, 
never  drawing  a  tear. 

VII.  By  maintaining  acknowledged   truth  in 
your  own  spirit. 

Both  food  and  medicines  are  injurious,  if  ad- 
ministered scalding  hot.  The  spirit  of  a  teacher 
often  effects  more  than  his  matter.  Benevo- 
lence is  a  universal  language  :  and  it  will  apol- 
ogize for  a  multitude  of  defects,  in  the  man 
who  speaks  it;  while  neither  talents  nor  truth 
will  apologize  for  pride,  illiberality,  or  bitter- 
ness. Avoid,  therefore,  irritating  occasions 
and  persons,  particularly  disputes  and  disput-^ 
ants,  by  which  a  minister  often  loses  his  tem- 
per and  his  character. 

VIII.  By  being  too  sharp- sighted,  too  quick-ear- 
ed, or  too  ready- to ngued. 

Some  evils  are  irremediable  :  they  are  best 
neither  seen  nor  heard  :  by  SEEING  and  HEARING 
things  which  you  cannot  remove,  you  will  cre- 
ate implacable  adversaries  ;  who,  being  guilty 
aggressors,  never  forgive.  Avoid  SPEAKING 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  315 

meanly  or  harshly  of  any  one :  not  only  because 
this  is  forbidden  to  Christians,  but  because  it  is 
to  declare  war  as  by  a  thousand  heralds. 

IX.  By  the  temptations  arising  from  the  female 
sex. 

I  need  not  mention  what  havoc  Satan  has 
made  in  the  church,  by  this  means,  from  the  fall 
to  this  day.  Your  safety,  when  in  danger  from 
this  quarter,  lies  in  flight — to  parley,  is  to  fall. 
Take  the  first  hint  from  conscience,  or  from 
friends. 

In  fine,  Watch  thou  in  all  things ;  endure  afflic- 
tions :  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist :  make  full 
proof  of  thy  ministry  :  and  then,  whether  those 
around  you  acknowledge  your  real  character 
or  not  now,  they  shall  one  day  know  that  there 
hath  been  a  prophet  among  them ! 


FRAGMENT. 
A  Dying  Ministers  Farewell. 

WHEN  a  Christian  minister  feels  the  springs  of 
life  giving  way  : — his  faculties  decaying — his 
voice  failing — his  spirit  sinking — though  he 
may  not  have  it  in  his  power  to  say,  as  the 
apostle  did  to  his  friends,  /  know  that  ye  all, 
among  whom  I  have  preached  the  kingdom  of 
God,  shall  see  my  face  no  more — yet  he  should 
stand  ready  to  part  from  his  flock,  and  every 
sermon  should  be  felt  by  him  as  if  it  were  his 
last. 

Wherefore  I  take  you  to  record  this  day,  that  I 
am  pure  from  the  blood  of  all  men  :  for  /  have 


316  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

not  shunned  to  declare  unto  you  ALL  THE  COUNSEL 
OF  GOD.  And  what  have  I  declared  that  coun- 
sel of  God  to  be  ?— All  the  curious  distinctions  of 
the  schools  ? — All  the  peculiarities  insisted  on 
so  strongly  by  different  sects  ? — No  such  thing  1 
I  have  followed  the  great  apostle  in  testifying 
REPENTANCE  toward  God  and  FAITH  toward  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

There  has  been  a  slander  brought  against 
religion — that  we  are  NOT  AGREED,  as  to  the 
truths  we  should  set  before  men.  I  say,  It  is 
false  !  We  ARE  agreed.  All,  who  know  any 
thing  of  real  religion,  are  agreed,  that  the 
SUBSTANCE  of  the  matter  is  contained  in  REPEN- 
TANCE toward  God,  and  FAITH  toward  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

If  a  man,  like  the  prodigal,  feels  that  he  has 
left  his  father's  house— turned  his  back  on  God 
— and  is  become  a  fool  and  a  madman  for  so 
doing — and  that  there  is  no  hope  but  in  his  re- 
turning again  :  if  such  a  change  of  mind  is 
wrought  in  him  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  he 
wrought  in  David,  when  he  cried,  Wash  me 
thoroughly  from  my  iniquity,  and  cleanse  me  from 
my  sin :  if,  like  Peter,  he  goes  forth  weeping 
bitterly — feeling  that  he  has  acted  foolishly 
and  wickedly,  and  that  his  only  hope  is  in  the 
mercy  of  God  through  the  Saviour — then  the 
man  enters  so  far  into  the  spirit  of  religion — 

REPENTANCE  TOWARD  GOD. 

But  does  he  rest  in  this  ?  Nay,  he  knows  that 
if  he  could  offer  thousands  of  rams,  and  ten 
thousand  rivers  of  oil  he  could  make  no  satisfac- 
tion for  the  sin  of  his  soul.  He  looks  to  the  a- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  317 

tenement ! — to  Him,  whom  God  hath  set  forth 
to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood. 

Repentance  toward  God  must  be  accompani- 
ed by  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 

He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own  received 
him  not.  But  as  many  as  received  him,  to  them 
gave  he  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to 
them  that  believe  on  his  na*ne  :  which  were  born 
not  of  blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of 
the  will  of  man,  but  of  God.  These  men  are 
enabled  to  say,  with  St.  Paul,  "I  count  all  things 
but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  I  have  no  refuge  but 
in  him — no  other  hope — no  other  plea.  All 
my  confidence  before  God  is  grounded  on  this 
— that  He  suffered,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he 
might  bring  us  te  God" 

If  a  minister  testifies  these  things — if  he 
speaks  plainly  and  simply  these  grand  essen- 
tial truths  of  God's  word — though  he  die  be- 
fore another  Sabbath  return,  HE  MAY  REST  IN 
PEACE — leaving  the  issue  in  God's  hand. 

The  ground  of  a  minister's  own  solid  satis- 
faction cannot  be  POPULARITY  :  for,  even  to  Si- 
mon Magus  all  gave  heed,  from  the  least  to  the 
greatest,  saying,  This  man  is  the  great  power  of 
God ! — neither  can  he  ground  his  satisfaction 
on  the  exercise  of  strong  and  enlarged  TALENTS: 
for  even  Balaam  was  a  man  of  extraordinary 
endowments — nor  can  it  be  on  his  SUCCESS  : — 
for  many,  saith  our  Lord,  shall  come  to  me,  and 
say,  Have  we  not  done  many  wonderful  works  in 
thy  name,  and  in  thy  name  cast  out  devils  ?  Then 
will  I  profess  unto  them,  I  never  knew  you  /  As 


318  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

though  he  had  said,  "  I  deny  not  the  works, 
but  ye  are  evil  men  !" 

But  a  minister's  satisfaction  must  be  ground- 
ed on  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  office  in  THE 
DELIVERY  OF  HIS  MESSAGE.  A  Prince  sends  a 
special  messenger  to  his  rebellious  subjects, 
with  offers  of  pardon  :  in  examining  his  con- 
duct, he  will  not  inquire  whether  they  re- 
ceived and  approved  him  or  not :  the  question 
will  be — "Did  you  deliver  my  message?  did 
you  deliver  it  as  one  that  believed  it  your- 
self? as  one  IN  EARNEST?"  If  a  man  should 
come  and  tell  you,  with  a  cheerful  countenance 
and  careless  air,  that  your  house  was  on  fire, 
and  that  you  and  your  children  would  be  burnt 
in  the  flames  if  you  did  not  make  haste  to 
escape,  you  would  not  believe  him.  You 
would  say,  u  He  does  not  believe  it  himself,  * 
or  he  would  not  be  so  unfeeling  as  to  speak 
of  it  in  such  a  manner." 

If  a  minister  delivers  his  message,  then  no 
scorn,  no  reproach  that  may  be  cast  upon  him, 
can  take  away  his  rest — he  has  done  his  duty. 
When  the  king  sent  out  his  servants  to  invite 
men  to  his  feast,  they  excused  themselves  on 
various  pretences  :  but  the  servant  might  say, 
u  No  matter  ! — I  have  declared  the  message — 
I  may  rest  in  having  done  my  part,  though  no 
success  seems  to  attend  my  pressing  invita- 
tions." 

1  would  lodge,  therefore,  my  appeal  in  your 
consciences — /  take  YOU  to  record — I  appeal  to 
conscience :  for  there  is  a  conscience  in  man  ; 
and,  in  serious  moments,  it  will  speak  out.  It 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  319 

wrung  from  Joseph's  brethren  that  confession, 
We  are  verily  guilty  concerning  our  brother !  It 
forced  Balaam  himself  to  cry  out,  Let  me  die  the 
death  of  the  righteous  !  and  let  my  last  end  be  like 
his  !  It  tormented  the  traitor  Judas  into  that 
self-accusation,  I  have  sinned,  in  that  I  have  be- 
trayed the  innocent  blood ! 

When  a  young  person  has  been  talked  to 
by  his  parents — when  they  have  represented 
to  him  the  misery  and  ruin  of  a  wicked  course, 
and  of  bad  habits — he  might  affect  to  brave  it 
out  at  the  time ;  but  he  has  gone  afterward 
weeping  through  the  streets — because  CON- 
SCIENCE WOULD  SPEAK  ! 

But  when  the  Spirit  of  God  softens  a  man's 
heart — when  he  is  made  to  FEEL  what  an  evil 
and  bitter  thing  it  is  to  sin  against  God — then  a 
faithful  minister's  appeal  to  that  man  is  like 
that  of  St.  Paul  to  the  Thessalonians  :  Ye  are 
witnesses,  and  God  also,  how  holily,  and  justly, 
and  unblameably  we  behaved  ourselves  among  you 
that  believe.  As  you  know  how  we  exhorted,  and 
comforted,  and  charged  every  one  of  you  (as  a  fa- 
ther doth  his  children)  that  ye  would  walk  worthy 
of  God,  who  hath  called  you  unto  his  kingdom  and 
glory.  For  this  cause  also  thank  we  God  without 
ceasing,  because,  when  ye  received  the  word  of 
God  which  ye  heard  of  us,  ye  received  it  not  as 
the*  word  of  men,  but,  (as  it  is  in  truth)  the  word 
of  God  which  effectually  worketh  also  in  you  that 
believe:  1  Thess.  ii.  10 — 13. 

It  is  most  affecting  to  see  to  what  miserable 
shifts  men  will  have  recourse,  in  order  to  e- 
vade  the  truth. 


320  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

"  It   is  IRRATIONAL,"  SHJS    One,  "  to    insist    SQ 

much  on  certain  peculiarities  of  doctrine  !" — 
But  whose  reason  shall  be  the  judge  ? — For  the 
preaching  of  the  cross  is  to  them  that  perish  fool- 
ishness :  but,  It  is  written^  1  will  destroy  the  wis- 
dom of  the  wise,  and  will  bring  to  nothing  the  un- 
derstanding of  the  prudent. 

"  It  is  UNNECESSARY,"  says  another — But  has 
God  commanded — and  do  we  pronounce  his 
commands  unnecessary  ? 

"  It   is   DISREPUTABLE" — Did    Christ   regard 
reputation  ?-^— Nay,  he  made  himself  of  no  repu-  ' 
tation. 

"  It  is  a  NARROW  way" — Ah  !  there,  indeed, 
you  pronounce  truly !  The  way  to  heaven  is  a 
narrow  way!  But  what  says  the  judge  ? — Wide 
is  the  gate^  and  broad  is  the  way  that  leadeth  to 
destruction,  and  many  there  be  which  go  in  there- 
at ;  because  strait  is  the  gate^  and  narrow  is  the 
way  which  leadethunto  life,  and  few  there  be  that 
find  it. 

Oh  how  distressing  is  it  to  observe  many,  to 
whom  we  cannot  but  fear,  the  Gospel  which 
they  hear  preached  from  Sunday  to  Sunday,  is 
but  the,  savor  of  death  I  If  God  has  made  a  dif- 
ference in  any  of  us,  let  us  not  forget  to  whom 
we  are  indebted. 

Brethren  !  YOU  are  my  witnesses.  I  take 
you  to  record,  that  you  have  had  the  whole 
counsel  of  God  declared  unto  you — that  all  cu- 
rious and  metaphysical  inquiries,  all  critical 
and  conjectural  points,  have  been  carefully  a- 
voided  for  your  sake.  I  have  attempted  to 
clear  my  ministry  of  ail  disputable  subjects,  in 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  321 

order  to  set  before  you  the  plain  fact  of  the 
death  and  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of 
salvation  through  him. 

But  consider !  YOU  also  must  give  an  ac- 
count !  I  must  give  an  account,  whether  1  plain- 
ly and  simply  declared  the  truth,  as  one  who 
felt  its  importance,  and  was  in  earnest.  You 
must  give  an  account,  whether  you  have  gone 
away  from  this  place,  as  if  you  had  heard  no- 
thing to  the  purpose,  and  immediately  dissipat- 
ed your  thoughts  with  some  trifling  subject — 
some  mere  secular  concern  : — or — whether 
what  you  heard  brought  you  to  your  knees  be- 
fore God,  beseeching  him  to  seal  and  impress 
his  truth  upon  your  hearts. 

Oh  consider  the  satisfaction  you  will  find,  in 
really  embracing  all  the  counsel  of  God.  Con- 
sider how  soon  the  time  will  come,  in  which 
it  must  be  your  ONLY  SATISFACTION,  that  you 
have  embraced  it !  Let  it  be  your  prayer,  as 
you  go  hence— -u  O  God  give  me  grace  'to  re- 
pent with  that  repentance  which  is  unto  life  ! 
Make  me  serious  !  Teach  me  what  I  must  do 
to  be  saved  !  Help  me  to  believe  the  record 
which  thou  hast  given  of  thy  Son.  Give  me 
faith  to  receive  the  atonement — to  set  to  my 
seal  that  there  is  none  other  name  wider  heaven 
given  among  men  whereby  we  must  be  saved^  but 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ." 

Come  to  your  Savior,  with  HUMILITY  as  a 
sinner :  come  with  GRATITUDE  and  LOVE.  "  For 
ye  are  not  come  unto  the  mount  that  might  be 
touched,  and  that  burned  with  fire,  nor  unto 
blackness,  and  darkness,  and  tempest,  and  the 


322  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

sound  of  a  trumpet,  and  the  voice  of  words :" 
when,  "  so  terrible  was  the  sight,  that  Moses 
said,  I  exceedingly  fear  and  quake.  But  ye  are 
come  unto  mount  Sion  ;  and  unto  the  city  of  the 
living  God — the  heavenly  Jerusalem ;  and  to  an 
innumerable  company  of  angels  ;  and  to  the 
general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born, 
which  are  written  in  heaven ;  and  to  God,  the 
Judge  of  all :  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect ;  and  to  Jesus  the  Mediator  of 
the  new  covenant;  and  to  the  blood  of  sprink- 
ling, that  speaketh  better  things  than  that  of 
Abel.  See,  then,  that  ye  refuse  not  him  that 
speaketh  ! — but — receiving  a  kingdom  which 
cannot  be  moved,  let  us  hold  fast  grace,  where- 
by we  may  serve  God  acceptably,  with  rever- 
ence and  godly  fear."  Heb.  xii.  18 — 28. 


LINES 

ON  THE 

DEATH  OP  A  CHILD  AT  DAY-BREAK* 

BY  THE  REV.  RICHARD  CECIL. 

"  Let  me  go,  for  the  day  breaketh."— Genesis  32: 36. 

CEASE  here  longer  to  detain  me, 
Kindest  mother,  drown'd  in  woe, 

Now  thy  kind  caresses  pain  me  ; 
Morn  advances — let  me  go. 

See  yon  orient  streak  appearing ! 

Harbinger  of  endless  day  ; 
Hark  !  a  voice  the  darkness  cheering1. 

Calls  my  new-born  soul  away  ! 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  323 

Lately  launched  a  trembling  stranger, 
On  this  world's  wild  boisterous  flood, 

Pierc'd  with  sorrows,  toss'd  with  danger, 
Gladly  I  return  to  God. 

Now  my  cries  shall  cease  to  grieve  thee. 

Now  my  trembling  heart  find  rest ; 
Kinder  arms  than  thine  receive  me, 

Softer  pillow  than  thy  breast. 

Weep  not  o'er  these  eyes  that  languish, 
Upward  turning  toward  their  home  ; 

Raptur'd  they'll  forget  all  anguish, 
While  they  wait  to  see  thee  come. 

There,  my  mother,  pleasures  centre — 

— Weeping,  parting,  care  or  woe 
Ne'er  our  Father's  house  shall  enter — 

— Morn  advances—let  me  go. 

As  through  this  calm  and  holy  dawning, 

Silent  glides  my  parting  breath, 
To  an  EVERLASTING  MORNING — 

Gently  close  my  eyes  in  death. 

Blessings,  endless,  richest  blessings, 

Pour  their  streams  upon  thy  heart ! 
(Though  no  language  yet  possessing) 

Breathes  my  spirit  ere  we  part. 

Yet  to  leave  thee  sorrowing  rends  me,— - 

Now  again  his  voice  I  hear  ; 
Rise  ! — may  every  grace  attend  thee, 

Rise,  and  seek  to  meet  me  there ! 


TJBHE  END. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


